13-year-old TN girl appointed 'Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor' for UNADAP

In what came as heart-warming news, a 13-year-old girl, who is the daughter of a salon owner in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, has been appointed a ‘Goodwill Ambassador for the Poor’ for the United Nations Association for Development and Peace (UNADAP).

“We are really overwhelmed on hearing this news. We are simple people from a small family. We did not expect this kind of honour,” news agency IANS quoted Mohan, 13-year-old Nethra’s father, as saying in response to this news.

According to Mohan, Nethra, studying in Class VIII, had been distressed to see a lot of people around her suffering due to the lockdown, and had been determined to help them out with the funds saved by her family for her education.

She had convinced her father to use that money, amounting to ₹5 lakh, to help the poor. Mohan had agreed and donated essentials, including groceries and vegetables, to around 600 families, according to IANS.

The UNADAP stated that the Dixon Scholarship has awarded Nethra a scholarship amount of ₹1,00,000 as a gesture of appreciation.

The UNADAP also said Nethra would be given the opportunity to speak at the United Nations (UN) conferences in New York and Geneva, to address civil society forums and conferences.

“This position would give her an opportunity and responsibility to speak to world leaders, academics, politicians and civilians, encouraging them to reach out to the poorest of the poor. This is a non-governmental opportunity,” the UNADAP said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated Nethra and her family in his Mann Ki Baat radio address to the nation.