Hearing and speech impaired Indian girl fails to recognise her family, will stay in govt care until positive identification
Modi expresses gratitude on Geeta’s return; donates INR 10m to Edhi Foundation, thanks PM Sharif in telephone call
Some 15 years after she strayed across the border in a train and was stranded in Pakistan, speech and hearing impaired Geeta made an emotional return to India on Monday to be reunited with her family.
Geeta flew into the international airport in Delhi on a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Karachi, accompanied by five representatives of the Edhi Foundation, including Bilqees Edhi, the Pakistani woman who cared for her and led a campaign for her return to India. Faisal Edhi said that Shabbana Edhi and Saad Edhi are also accompanying Geeta on her journey back home.
Before boarding the flight in Karachi, a beaming Geeta, clad in a red and white shalwar-kameez, used sign language to thank the Pakistani people for hosting her and caring for her.
She was hopeful of being reunited with her long-lost family after identifying them earlier this month in photographs delivered by Indian officials in Pakistan.
But in a tragic twist just hours after arriving in Delhi, Geeta told officials she did not know the Mahato family from India’s eastern state of Bihar.
“She recognised one family after we showed her their pictures. But after meeting the Mahato family today, she could not recognise them,” Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference alongside Geeta.
If the DNA tests do not confirm that she’s a member of the Mahato family, she will be placed in a home either in Delhi or Indore.
Geeta remained upbeat despite the disappointment, with a sign language interpreter saying: “She used to be sad in Pakistan but after coming here she is happy. “Swaraj said Geeta would be placed in an institution if DNA test results confirmed that the family was not hers and would keep searching for her real one.
“The family has submitted their blood samples and Geeta has also given her samples. We will have scientific proof before handing her to any family,” she said.
Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Foundation, told reporters they would stay in touch with Geeta through social media and may even visit her. “She is not really separating from us,” he said.
Geeta, believed to be 23 now, was received at the airport by officials from the External Affairs Ministry and senior Pakistani diplomats. In a rare gesture, the Indian government will treat the representatives of the Karachi-based charity as state guests.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude on the return of Geeta and thanked the Edhi family for looking after her.
Modi announced a contribution of INR 10 million for the Edhi Foundation.
“What the Edhi family has done is too priceless to be measured but I am happy to announce a contribution of Rs 10 million for their foundation,” he tweeted on Monday.
The Indian premier welcomed Geeta and said “it is truly wonderful to have her back home”.
Modi also telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and thanked him for the efforts in ensuring Geeta’s safe return home.
The young woman smiled, waved and fought back tears after landing at New Delhi airport clutching bouquets of flowers and escorted by charity workers and officials
In the evening, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and his wife will host a reception for Geeta and those accompanying her.
“We are happy that finally she is going home,” said Faisal Edhi. The Edhi Foundation said it had got an assurance from Indian authorities that its representatives could remain in New Delhi till DNA tests to confirm Geeta’s parentage are completed.
