PM Narendra Modi wants Vaishali to make country proud

PUNE: Crossing two lanes behind the Hadapsar bus depot, one reaches Raigad Colony where a tiny smile welcomes visitors and gleefully leads them to the first floor one-room, where she stays with her father, uncle and grandmother.

Last week, she wrote to the prime minister , her second letter to 'Modi Sarkar' (as she fondly addresses Modi).

Her first letter, seeking help for the surgery, mobilised the district administration to arrange free treatment for the six-year-old second grader.

However, the response to the second letter, in which Vaishali thanked Modi for arranging the surgery and even attached a drawing for him, has left the Yadav family pleasantly shocked.

For, this time the PM himself wrote to the child. A hand-signed letter from Modi was received by her uncle Pratap on Monday evening. "Can anyone imagine getting a letter from the PM, that too a family like ours that stays in a 10x10 ft room? Even the postman had to take some effort to find our place.
But seeing the PM's seal on the envelope, he made sure we got the letter in time," said Pratap.

Meanwhile, Vaishali is a happy munchkin.

Asked if she had hopes of hearing from the PM, the six-year-old replies with a quick "Yes, of course," showing utter confidence. Her grandmother is still concerned about the child. "We will send her to school once again from July 1, but only after we are sure she can handle the strain. Kids can play hard at times and we don't wish for her to get hurt," said 69-year-old Tilottama Yadav.

Ever since the news of her PMO-directed surgery, Vaishali has received many offers for support, monetary and otherwise.

"We have received quite a few offers for help and hence we have set up a bank account in her name," Pratap said.

Pratap himself was enrolled for a skills training programme at a Bhor-based oil field machinery company earlier this month with support from BJP city president Yogesh Gogawale.