Team Herald
MAPUSA: It was a proud moment for Shane Fernandes, a student from Gauravaddo Calangute, who was felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the best letter written to “Bapu” Mahatma Gandhi at Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Tuesday.
The event was organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India during which 11 awards were presented to swacchata champions across the country. One of the categories included a letter writing competition for school students on the theme “Letter To Bapu”.
Fernandes is a Class X student from Lourdes Convent High School and was selected to be awarded in the Class VI to XII category.
It may be recalled that 3.5 crore students across India wrote a letter to Bapu or Mahatma Gandhi on ‘Letter Writing Day’ September 13 noting their commitment to ‘swachhata’ or cleanliness in India.
The top entries were awarded at the national level. As part of the “Swachhata hi Seva” campaign organised from September 11 to October 2, schools students from across the country were asked to write a letter to Mahatma Gandhi.
The letter suggested the students stressed on the need to add instructions to avoid the usage of single-use plastic within the school premises as well as outside as part of the planned activities.
Shane’s father and Gauravaddo ward member Cheryl Lobo were present for the function in Gujarat on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
