PM Modi โMeets Orphaned Baby Neetika After Himachal Pradesh Floods,Image Captures nation’s Heart
Mandi,Himachalโฃ Pradesh – August 15,2023 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi,during aโฃ visit to โHimachal Pradesh to assess the damage from recentโ devastating floods adn โlandslides,met 10-month-old Neetika,who tragically lost her parents and grandmother in a cloudburst.A photograph of the Prime Minister holding โฃthe infant hasโข quickly circulated โขonline, becoming aโฃ poignant โขsymbol of the disaster’s impact.
The cloudburst struck Talwara village in Mandi โdistrict on the night of June 30th โandโข July 1st, claiming the life of Neetika’s father, Rameshโฃ (31).Her mother, Radha devi (24), and grandmother, Purnu Devi (59), remainโค missing, according to reports from PTI. Ramesh died attempting to divert floodwaters entering โคtheir home,while his โwife and mother were lost while assisting him.
Following the tragedy, the Himachal Pradesh government declared Neetikaโข a “child of the state” underโ the Sukh-Aashray Yojana.โ revenue Minister Jagat Singhโค Negi โขstated the government will assume full responsibility for Neetika’sโค upbringing, education, andโ future, covering all expenses irrespective of her chosen career path – “whether this girl wants to become โa doctor, an engineer or an officer,” โขhe told โPTI Videos.
The Sukh-Aashray scheme, launched in 2023, provides comprehensive support including food, shelter, clothing, higher education, and skill development to unmarried orphans โคaged 18-27 who are without housing and employment.
Neetika was discovered alone and โฃcrying in her home by neighbourโ Premโข singh,who thenโข alerted Balwant,a personal security officer to former chiefโข minister Jai Ram Thakur.
PM Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected regionsโข of Mandi and Kullu onโฃ Tuesday,announcing โน1500 crore in assistanceโ for the โคstate’s โฃrecovery. The โfloods, triggered by โฃincessant rains and landslides, have caused widespreadโ devastation โacross Himachal Pradesh.