This Pathankot beggar gets PM Modi’s praise, distributing free masks and ration

 Pathankot( Punjab)/ May 31 , (H S ): On Sunday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an example of Pathankot beggar “Raju” in his “Maan ki Baat” for his remarkable job of providing  nearly 3000 masks during lockdown.  Raju, a specially-abled man from Pathankot was seen distributing masks and ration to people of Pathankot at busiest Dhangu Road in spite that he did so with his begging money. A 37-year old Raju said that he begged over Rs 75 thousand which he spent on distributing masks and free ration to the needy during lockdown.

 “I do not have family and home, whatever I collected through begging, I have spent all  during lockdown.” he said. “I am very happy to know that PM Modi has praised me. From the last twenty five years, I have spent my life through begging but always trying to help needy people like me because I was thrown out of the family after my parents’ death.” said Raju who has two brothers and two sisters.  During his childhood, Raju was suffering from Polio which badly affected his both legs but Raju was very optimistic and never lost hope.

He started his day while walking on his tricycle,  begging money from people but his story was always inspiring others. “Once he repaired a broken platform (pulli) from his own pocket. The roadside platform was repaired with spending Rs 15000 by Raju in 2018 which was causing myriad accidents. Despite complaints, the administration paid no heed but he did.”, said Dinesh Beri who has a shop in Dhangu Road, Pathankot. Raju recalled that it created not only people hindrances but he too fell down five to six times from that point after which he vowed to repair the broken platform from his own pocket. His noble deeds have not stopped here. He also said that he financially assisted poor families for wedding of their girls and students’ tuition fees. “I have spent money on marriages of 22 women”, he added.