NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought help of people in finding parents of Geeta, a speech and hearing impaired girl who returned to India from Pakistan in October 2015, and also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh to whosoever helps in finding her parents.
Swaraj in an appeal to the nation said that Geeta, presently staying with an NGO for deaf and dumb in Indore, had come to India with lots of hope to get united with her family.
“I appeal to people to help in locating her parents. Several families have claimed Geeta to be their daughter but she has denied all of them. In last two years, she has learnt sign language, computers and stitching but sometimes she starts crying for her family,” said Swaraj.
The external affairs minister appealed to her parents to come forward to take her home and assured that the government will ensure that Geeta’s all needs from studies to marriage will be taken care of.
“I announce a reward of Rs 1 lakh to whosoever finds her parents and it will a great service to unite a girl to her family,” she added.
Geeta was spotted sitting alone inside the Samjhauta Express at the Lahore railway station 15 years ago by the Pakistan Rangers. Before coming back to India, she was taken care by the Edhi Foundation.