Paradip, Feb. 15: For Odisha, February 7 was a big day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in town to dedicate the Paradip oil refinery to the nation. It was a bigger one for Pinki Paramanik, 8, Nandini Swain, 18, and Santosh Rout, 20.

While the event will soon fade away from public memory, the three will cherish it for a lifetime. It is the day when they shook hands with the Prime Minister of India.

Class III student Pinki, who suffers from a muscular disorder, remembers the thunderous applause from the massive crowd when she walked onto the stage with her crutches that day.

" Kaunsi kaksha mein padhti ho? Agey jeevan mein kya banna chahti ho? (Which class do you read in? What is your goal in life?)" The Prime Minister had asked the Koladia village girl on the dais.

"I was overawed by the occasion. I had never seen such a massive crowd. I could hardly comprehend what Modi uncle asked me. Those in the dais helped me and asked me to reply. I told him I would become a doctor. Then he patted me on my back," recalled Pinki.

Pinki's father Pradipta said: "My child suffers from a muscular disorder in her lower limbs, and she needs crutches to walk. Despite her disability, she is determined to complete her studies. She was very excited after the Prime Minister handed over to her the physiotherapy kit. The exposure has given her a sense of self-belief."

On February 6, Niranjan Swain of Bhitargarh village was told that the Prime Minister would present a hearing aid to his hearing-impaired daughter, Nandini.

"Six hours before the event, we were taken to the venue. While I stayed in the guest enclosure, my daughter was taken to another area for security reasons," said Niranjan.

"My 18-year-old daughter studies in the Plus Two arts stream at Paradip College. She can neither speak nor hear. Modi ji asked her whether she was able to hear anything after she put on the hearing aid he gave to her. He was gracious and had kind words for Nandini, who replied with gestures that she was able to hear the crowd," the proud father said.

"Her disability has not deterred Nandini, who idolises Ira Singhal, a physically-challenged woman who had topped the civil services examination. Shaking hands with the Prime Minister had inculcated in her a further sense of positivism."

Apart from Pinki and Nandini, visually-impaired Santosh Rout, 20, also received an aid from the Prime Minister.

"The aids were provided to us by Engineering India Limited under their corporate social responsibility programme," said corporate communications manager of Paradip oil refinery Sangram Mishra.