Over ₹1 lakh collected for orphans with old notes
two orphaned siblings, who wrote to the Prime Minister on March 24 for exchange of demonetised banknotes of ₹96,500, have not heard from Delhi, but help has been pouring in for them.
“More than ₹1 lakh has been collected from organisations as donation for the siblings to compensate for the loss due to demonetisation,” Kota MP Om Birla said on Sunday. He had urged the Centre for the exchange of the junked notes, but without success so far.
Sooraj Banjara (17) and Saloni Banjara (9) -- living in Madhu Smriti Sansthan, a children’s home in Kota, after their mother was killed four years ago -- found ₹96,500 in old banknotes at their house in Sahrawada village on March 11. The government had set December 30 deadline for depositing junked bills in banks when PM Narendra Modi announced on November 8 the recall of 500- and 1000-rupee notes. The siblings wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting exchange of the old banknotes. Birla also approached the union finance ministry, but the Centre is yet to decide on exchange.
The orphaned kids’ mother, Pooja Banjara (35), who was murdered by her paramour, had saved the money for their education. The kids, whose father died earlier, had no idea about the savings — 22 old notes of ₹1000 denomination and 149 notes of ₹500. The bills were discovered after their house in Sahrawada village was searched by child welfare committee (CWC) officials.
The Kota MP appealed to organisations in Kota to donate money for the orphans. “There has been a collection of around ₹1 lakh which will soon be handed over to the kids; the amount will be deposited in their bank account after a ceremony,” he said.
“Bhamashah Merchants Associations, Kota Hostel Association, Hadauti Kota Stone Industries Association and others have donated for the orphans.”
Shankar Budhrani from Kota Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Association said, “Their association has donated ₹5100 for the orphaned kids.” Chuttan Lal Sharma of Hadauti Kota Stone Industries Association said they contributed ₹21000 for the kids.
Kota CWC chairman Harish Gurubakshani said, “A bank account of the orphaned kids was opened; the collected money will be deposited soon.”
He said, “CWC has no storehouse where demonetised currency can be kept. We will dispatch the demonetised notes of the orphaned kids to the union finance department.”
Birla said, “Efforts are also underway for exchange of the demonetised notes.” Sooraj thanked the organisations for chipping in with donations.