PM lauds differently-abled CBSE topper on 'Mann Ki Baat'
What's the story
A differently-abled girl, Anushka Panda (15), from Gurgaon is in seventh heaven after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned her achievement in his monthly radio program "Mann Ki Baat" yesterday.
Panda, a student of Sun City school, has been suffering from spinal muscular atrophy since childhood.
She had recently topped the CBSE Class 10 board examination in the disabled category with 97.8% marks.
Strong determination
Her disability didn't deter her from becoming all-India topper: Modi
Modi on radio said, "I came across the news of Gurgaon's specially-abled daughter Anushka Panda. She didn't let her disability deter her from becoming an all-India topper."
There're a lot of specially-abled students who didn't let their adverse situation become a hindrance in the path of their success, he added.
Modi said, "They proved that with determination and hard-work, any milestone can be achieved."
Ambition
Anuskha aims to become a software engineer
Anushka's mother Archana Panda said the disease her daughter was suffering from robbed people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, thereby weakening the ability to walk.
"The PM himself will congratulate me on my board results. I am thankful to him for his kind encouragement and motivation," Anushka said.
Anushka aims to become a software engineer.