Koppal: Mallamma, a grade 10 student who went on a hunger strike for a toilet in her house found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’.

Mallamma is pursuing her education at a government school in Danapur village of Gangavathi taluk. When R. Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer of Koppal Zilla Panchayat, and Mohammed Shafi, gram panchayat president, visited her house during a door-to-door campaign to motivate people to opt for individual toilets, the girl’s plea came to light. As the girl’s family was poor, the officers who visited got the toilet constructed within a week making use of the incentive from the government.

The incident caught the attention of not only the media but also PM Modi, who made a reference in his ‘Mann ki Baat’, aired on radio and television, on Sunday. Modi hailed the girl for her hunger strike and Shafi who helped her family in constructing the toilet.

“In Karnataka’s Koppal district, a 16-year-old resorted to hunger strike for a toilet in her house. As the family was facing financial constraints, gram panchayat president Mohammed Shafi extended the incentive and got the toilet constructed. See how the girl and Mr. Shafi have found a solution to the problem,” said Modi.

Mallamma was thrilled and proud that the Prime Minister took her name and of her village and district in his speech.