USA (Commonwealth Union)_ In a collaborative endeavor to assist the victims of the Odisha train tragedy, Indian American teenager Tanishka Dhariwal, alongside 16 others, has successfully raised more than $10,000, which will be channeled towards the PM CARES Fund. Tanishka, an active member of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), presented the collected funds to the Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal. Her friends, representing diverse backgrounds, generously contributed to raising the funds.
Tanishka initiated a GoFundMe campaign, reaching out to schools, districts, friends, and family, resulting in an impressive collection of funds. Expressing her hopes for the meaningful impact of the raised money, she stated, “I believe a little goes a long way, and hopefully, this is a good start to it.” The ceremony commemorating the donation was graced by notable figures, including Haridas Kotewala, a patron member of RANA; Ashok Sancheti, an advisor at Jaipur Foot USA; Ravi Jargarh, joint secretary of RANA; and Chandra Sukhwal, a distinguished senior member of RANA.
Prem Bhandari, President of RANA and the founding chair of Jaipur Foot USA, commended the humanitarian initiatives attempted by young Indian Americans like Tanishka. He highlighted the profound emotion that transcends mere monetary value in such endeavors, emphasizing the enduring connections between US-born Indian youth and their homeland. Bhandari also underscored the significance of these connections in the context of India’s pursuit of self-reliance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhandari further lauded India’s self-reliance and its noteworthy role in extending international humanitarian assistance. Notably, former RANA president KK Mehta was one of the very first NRIs to donate INR 1 crore to the PM CARES Fund on the day of its launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The PM CARES Fund, established in Delhi on March 28, 2020, gained global attention, particularly within the Indian diaspora worldwide. In this context, RANA members KK and Chandra Mehta’s significant contribution of INR 1 crore on March 30 demonstrated their commitment to making a substantial impact and highlighted their compassion and generosity. Tanishka, at the age of 16, exhibited commendable dedication in response to the Odisha tragedy, vowing to continue her fundraising efforts for the victims. The Odisha tragedy, marked by a collision involving three trains, resulted in the tragic loss of at least 288 lives.
