When we talk about inaugurations, we are conditioned to always expect it to be some celebrity or a public figure who conducts the ceremony. It has always been the norm in India.

However, the trend is changing now and the initiative has been taken by the people of Bengaluru.

According to a TOI report, a 10-year old labourer's daughter was recently asked by the South Western Railway authorities in Bengaluru to inaugurate an escalator installation project at KSR Bengaluru City Railway Station. 

Turns out, 10-year-old Begumma is the daughter of Chandbi, a labourer who was working at the project site for few months. 

The railway authorities have garnered a lot of love and praises from people across the country for this heartwarming gesture. 

© BCCL

As per the news reports, the escalator along with a renovated AC hall was supposed to be inaugurated on November 9 by Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan, but because of the imposition of section 144 due to Ayodhya Verdict, the formal inauguration ceremony was cancelled. 

However, the authorities wanted the site to be made public, so they asked the labourer's child, who was sitting at the railway station, to take the ribbon-cutting ceremony forward.

© BCCL

Also interestingly, the renovated AC waiting hall was inaugurated by two senior citizens waiting at the platform, reports said.

This was the first time in many years that a government project was inaugurated by common people instead of a VIP. 

Ashok Kumar Verma, Bengaluru divisional railway manager told TOI, “We saw them sitting at the platform and asked them to inaugurate the facility. They were both surprised and happy.”

All we can say is that roping in common people is a heartwarming gesture by the authorities and we just hope that this happens more often in India.

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