Sulabh to adopt Rahul’s Kalavati

Sulabh International has decided to adopt Kalavati Bandurkar, the widow whose tale of poverty was narrated by Rahul Gandhi in his trust vote speech in Parliament recently. The organisation, known for its work in the area of sanitation, will provide a monthly aid of Rs 25,000 to Kalavati for the next 20 years.

Kalavati, who has nine children and belongs to Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, had threatened to end her life when she did not get any help from the Government after her debt-ridden husband, who was a farmer, committed suicide three years ago.

Founder of Sulabh International Bindheshwar Pathak said Kalavati would be given a cheque of Rs 3 lakh initially and an amount of Rs 33 lakh would be put in fixed deposit in her name after a year. “We will ask the bank to pay her interest every month so that the principal amount remains secure for her and her children’s future,” Pathak said. Rahul Gandhi had underlined Kalavati’s tale to stress the need for nuclear energy for providing electricity in the backward regions of the country.