Bit by bit: TOI report funds dream

KOLKATA: Eighteen-year old student Sonu Swaika, daughter of a city cabbie, was about to give up a coveted seat at Birla Institute of Technology in Pilani due to lack of funds.
But thanks to contributions from several generous persons and organisations, Sonu, who had topped the ISC examinations in Future Hope Foundation school, is all set to study at BITS.
Sonu is packing her bags for her first semester at Pilani to pursue a B.Tech in computer science a fortnight after The Times of India reported about her financial situation.
A total of Rs 63,000 in cheque has already reached Sonu. “Not only have I received cheques, many individuals have promised to finance my future semesters. I had lost all faith in God, but they have restored it all. I can’t thank them enough,� said Sonu. She will leave for Delhi on July 25 en route to Pilani. Apart from receiving a bank draft of Rs 25,000 from additional solicitor-general of India R.N. Trivedi in New Delhi, former BITS student Manoj Gaur of Jaiprakash Sewa Sansthan has come forward with a sum of Rs 2 lakh to be paid over the next four years.
“I have already received Rs 25,000 from JSS for my first semester and the remaining amount will come in at the beginning of each semester,� said Sonu. The remaining Rs 13,000 was contributed by individuals from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Sonu has also been contacted by ISC Board chief executive secretary F. Fanthom.
“Once again, it has been proved that we are all human beings bound together by an invisible bond. Strangers have come forward for Sonu’s cause and we will always be deeply indebted to them for their help,� said Asha Swaika, the proud mother of Sonu. “Dilli vakai mein dilwalon ka shahar hai. Hats off to them,� Sonu added.