PM pats pensioner who donated one-third pension to Swachh Bharat campaign

In his monthly radio address, Mann ki Baat, PM Modi termed Kulkarni an inspiration for others

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised retired government employee Chandrakant Kulkarni for contributing his one-third pension to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the government’s ambitious clean-India mission.

Chandrakant Kulkarni with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune (HT)

In his monthly radio address, Mann ki Baat, Modi termed Kulkarni an inspiration for others.

“A retired government employee giving almost a third of his pension to Swachh Bharat. What can be a greater inspiration?” Modi said in his 21st edition of Mann ki Baat.

Kulkarni has decided to donate Rs 5,000 every month out of his monthly pension of Rs 16,000.

On Saturday, Modi during his Pune tour met Kulkarni when the latter handed over 52 postdated cheques worth Rs 2,60,000 to the Prime Minister towards Swachh Bharat Kosh.

After the meet, Modi tweeted, “Meeting Chandrakant Kulkarni was an absolute delight. People like him are true heroes of our nation.”

The government has set up Swachh Bharat Kosh to facilitate funds towards the clean-India campaign.