New Delhi (PTI): It was a proud moment for Lakshmi Nanda, a resident of Alwar in Rajasthan, when she received a "priceless" Rs 500 from President Pratibha Patil as a reward for reciting a poem she had written.

The group of more than 30 women scavengers led by Chairman of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak, who are on their way to the United Nations to participate in a cultural programme and meet important personalities there on July two, had called on the President on Tuesday evening.

At the brief function, the 27-year-old Nanda recited a poem "Patan se Udhan ki Taraf" (from downfall to emancipation) in which she spoke about uplift of a woman scavenger.

The President was left spellbound after hearing the poem and immediately handed over Rs 500 to Nanda as a prize.

"I am so touched by the gesture of the President. This currency note is priceless for me and I am not going to spend it," a jubilant Nanda said.

She is a part of the group of women who had been in the business of manual scavenging till she came across Pathak who introduced them to starting their own business like making papads, pickles and noodles.

Patil assured the group that the centuries-old manual scavenging practice would soon be abolished in the country and said she would take up the matter of ending the practice with the government.