Mysuru businessman wins Modi's laurels

Mysuru: Santhosh Pathange’s cell phone has not stopped ringing after he won a word of praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latest episode of ‘Mann ki baat’ on All India Radio (AIR) on Sunday.  

It was a moment of quiet pride for this 36 year-old owner of a lubricants store when Mr Modi spoke about him, and his generous gesture of passing on Rs 1,000 won under ‘Lucky Grahak Yojana’ or ‘Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana’ to a 65 year-old woman whose dwelling place was reduced to rubble following a cylinder blast.  
He told Deccan Chronicle: “This has inspired me to take up greater causes, whenever an opportunity arises,” and conveyed his “thanks” to Mr Modi though he has not been able to string together a good “thank you” message to the Prime Minister.

The youngest of four sons of  late C R Premkumar and C P Tejavathi, Santhosh, a resident of Tilak Nagar in Mysuru, owns a lubricants store on Benki Navab street in Mandi Mohalla, Mysuru. Recently, he joined as executive member of BJP district slum morcha. Married to Ambabavani, a house wife, he is the father of Nithya, a ten year-old class four student in a local school, Harshitha, aged three-and-half years, and six months-ol Nagajay.

Mr Santhosh said: “Though I ventured into business 17 years ago, I have opted for digital transactions, and increased it after demonetisation. It is very convenient. I am an account holder in Bank of Maharashtra and use rupay card. Recently, I downloaded Modi app. On 6 January, I was happy and surprised when my account was credited with '1,000 and got to know that I was rewarded under ‘Lucky Grahak Yojana’ or ‘Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana’. It was on 2nd February I read the news that Bayamma, 65, a resident of Kumbar Koppal in Mysuru, who earned her livelihood by working as a maid, lost her house following a cylinder blast. I felt she was in more need of the reward money, and I handed it over to her. ‘It was not Rs 1,000 but it is your heart to donate it which has made me happy’ Bayamma said. I was very happy and satisfied. I messaged about this and thanked Mr Modi ji for the opportunity, through ‘Mann ki baat’ avenue. I was away on work when ‘Mann ki baat’ was aired on Sunday. When the electronic media started high lighting about me, family and friends called  to inform me, and my happiness was boundless. I never expected this could happen. I am very happy, our family is proud. I am still short of words to thank Mr Modi ji for this, so I am yet to send him a message.”  Mr Santhosh said digitization would help erase parallel economy.