Workers put in extra hours, give up pay

Rameswaram: The missionary zeal and nationalistic outlook of workers involved in the construction of the memorial for APJ Abdul Kalam, here, won the appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The workers, in addition to working from 8 am to 5 pm, took a break for an hour and worked extra two hours from 6 pm to complete the project on time. They declined to accept wages for the overtime which they said had been dedicated for Kalam. "It is not just the funding, planning and focus of the government, it is the supreme sacrifice of the workers. You may be surprised over the speed with which the memorial has been completed.  These poor workers worked with bakthi and completed the project.

They wanted to sacrifice for (the sake of) Kalam and didn't want money for the extra work," Mr Modi said and added that had late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa been alive now she would have appreciated their good work and blessed them. "It is unfortunate that she is not alive (now)," he said. The PM also thanked DRDO, state government and all those involved in ensuring the speedy completion of the memorial.

Sagarmala will transform logistic sector

Mr Modi said on Thursday said the Centre's ambitious Sagarmala project would transform the logistic sector and change the lives of those living along the 7,500 km coastline in the country.

Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the APJ Abdul Kalam's memorial here and launching a slew of projects, Mr Modi said the government was working to bring down input cost of logistics for import, export and trade through the project.

"The 7,500 km long coastline has a potential of fetching huge investment. Keeping that in mind, we are implementing the Sagar Mala project with an
objective to exploit the coastline to benefit logistic transport sector," he said and added that the government had plans to bring a big change in the lives of those living along the coastline.

Feel Jaya’s absence, says PM

Regretting that Jayalalithaa was not alive to see the memorial come up, PM Modi said had she been present there, she would have appreciated the hard labour of the workers who did extra two hours every day, without demanding additional wages. "If Amma were to be here, she would have appreciated and blessed the workers for their sacrifice. It is unfortunate she is not here. Even now she will continue to bless Tamil Nadu".