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‘Seed Mother’ Padma Shri Rahibai Popere forced to abruptly end speech after criticising PM Modi in Nagpur

Rahibai Popere
Tribal farmer and Padma Shri awardee Rahibai Popere was asked to abruptly end her speech in Marathi after 20 minutes during 108th Indian Science Congress on Thursday, January 5 in Nagpur.
The incident happened when Popere who’s known as – Seed Mother of India – was invited for the inaugural session of Women’s Science Congress and Farmers Science Congress as the Guest of Honour apart from Union Minister Nitin Gadakri’s wife Kanchan, former Nagpur Mayor Kalpana Pande, to name a few.
President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Smt. Rahibai Soma Popere for Agriculture. Popularly known as 'Seed Mother', she is a tribal farmer from Mahadeo Koli, Tribal community from Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/IKFeaROoVQ
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021
Widely acknowledged for her role in traditional farming using indigenous seeds, Popere said, “We have forgotten nature and that’s why nature has forgotten us; rains have now become untimely. We are not sowing crops as per nature; we are cultivating unseasonal crops. We have changed and that is why nature has changed. Every village should have a Rahibai Popere and a seed bank. Every food plate in every home must be chemical-free.”
However, very soon, she was asked to cut short her speech after she criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP Chandrakant Patil to name a few. Her criticism drew huge applause from the audience.
Popere said when she had gone to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive the Padma Shri in 2021, PM Modi had promised her that he would visit her village Kombhalne in Ahmednagar after she told him about the poor condition of her village.
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Rotary Club of Nagpur Vision organises kidathon, 4000 children participate
Rotary club of Nagpur Vision organized a marathon for children on January 22, 2023 called as RCNV KIDATHON. The venue was WCL ground, Civil Lines where approximately 4000 children between the age group pf 7-15 years participated.
They were divided into three groups of three km, four km and five km according to the age. Children of age seven to 10 participated in three km, 11-13 in four km and 14 – 15 in five km marathon. The motto behind this marathon was to encourage and educate children about out door activities and importance of exercise.
Fund raised by this event was donated to Gram Heeth for the benefit of farmers. The event was flagged-off by the hands of the Chief Guests, NMC Commissioner Radhakrishnan B and Dr Amit Samarth at half past six in the morning.
Different routes were planned for the children under the strict security of RCNV volunteers and police. Once the children finished the marathon they were handed goodie bags, certificates and medals.
The sponsors for this mega event were Mauli group, Parekh brothers, Ajinkya tutorials, Oak & Chisel, Xenicon Healthcare, Gaysons, Dinshaws, Treat ice cream, Bharatvarsh farms, Diamond chips, Icad Adventures and you, Sunder biscuits, Kamal Chabrani. Medical partner for the event was Seven Star Hospital.
The mega event took place under the guidance and supervision of RCNV President Dr Shivani Sule, Treasurer Rtn Ritesh Amidwar, Chairperson and huge number of volunteers from the club.
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