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- Quadruplets get a caring friend for life
This story is from May 2, 2007
Quadruplets get a caring friend for life
A South African citizen has come forward to 'financially adopt' the four children born to slumdwellers in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: If the quadruplets born to a Kandivli couple in March were a little older, they would think they had chanced upon Santa Claus.
A South African citizen has extended an unusual gift of kindness — he has come forward to 'financially adopt' the four children (three boys and one girl) born to slumdwellers Mangal and Sarjerao Veer at KEM Hospital, Parel, on March 23.
The benevolent donor is 72-year-old Ahmed Pandor, a businessman from Durban who was moved by the Veer family’s financial worries after he read an article in TOI’s March 24 edition.
On Tuesday, he dropped by at their two-room home in Poisur to interact with the Veers and assess the children’s financial needs.
“I have financially adopted triplets and quintuplets in South Africa. When I read the TOI article, I realised that quadruplets were the missing link,” says Pandor, who traces his ties to India way back to his grandfather’s birth in Gujarat.
For the newly-named quadruplets — Abhay, Omkar, Aniket and Anjali — the offer is God-sent. Pandor isn’t the usual donor who disappears after dropping off a cheque. “I am looking at a sustained form of donation by which I can help bring up these children,” Pandor explained to Sarjerao who is still somewhat flummoxed by his generosity. The Veers also have an elder daughter Ashmita who is in the fifth standard.
On Tuesday, Pandor who talks in English and Sarjerao who speaks in Marathi and Hindi met and charted out the quadruplets'future, through a string of interpreters. “They are still on mother’s milk, so we aren’t buying food for them now.
They are wrapped in towels, so no clothes right now either,” said Sarjerao, as Pandor handed over Rs 1,000 for this month’s expense for the infants.
They agreed to Rs 1,000 for the first three months, which would be increased once the children started drinking packaged milk.
A grandfather himself, Pandor promises to continue financing all the quadruplets'needs in their growing years — food, clothing, education, medical needs and even housing — in the long run. “As of now, I have drawn out a five year plan and will be in close touch with the family,” said Pandor. His family friends in Mumbai will be monitoring that the money is appropriately used.
Though the quadruplets have now shifted to their village in Kolhapur, and Pandor hasn’t yet met them, he yearns to see them grow up well. “I would like them to get English education,” he told Sarjerao. He only wishes the city’s rich folks would take a cue. “What’s the use of having wealth if you can’t share it,” he asks.
A South African citizen has extended an unusual gift of kindness — he has come forward to 'financially adopt' the four children (three boys and one girl) born to slumdwellers Mangal and Sarjerao Veer at KEM Hospital, Parel, on March 23.
The benevolent donor is 72-year-old Ahmed Pandor, a businessman from Durban who was moved by the Veer family’s financial worries after he read an article in TOI’s March 24 edition.
On Tuesday, he dropped by at their two-room home in Poisur to interact with the Veers and assess the children’s financial needs.
“I have earned my fortune on clothing children and believe in ploughing back my money for their welfare,” says Pandor whose business involves providing school uniforms. Over the years, he has helped build several schools for Africans, looked after orphans and financed children’s education in South Africa.
“I have financially adopted triplets and quintuplets in South Africa. When I read the TOI article, I realised that quadruplets were the missing link,” says Pandor, who traces his ties to India way back to his grandfather’s birth in Gujarat.
For the newly-named quadruplets — Abhay, Omkar, Aniket and Anjali — the offer is God-sent. Pandor isn’t the usual donor who disappears after dropping off a cheque. “I am looking at a sustained form of donation by which I can help bring up these children,” Pandor explained to Sarjerao who is still somewhat flummoxed by his generosity. The Veers also have an elder daughter Ashmita who is in the fifth standard.
On Tuesday, Pandor who talks in English and Sarjerao who speaks in Marathi and Hindi met and charted out the quadruplets'future, through a string of interpreters. “They are still on mother’s milk, so we aren’t buying food for them now.
They are wrapped in towels, so no clothes right now either,” said Sarjerao, as Pandor handed over Rs 1,000 for this month’s expense for the infants.
They agreed to Rs 1,000 for the first three months, which would be increased once the children started drinking packaged milk.
A grandfather himself, Pandor promises to continue financing all the quadruplets'needs in their growing years — food, clothing, education, medical needs and even housing — in the long run. “As of now, I have drawn out a five year plan and will be in close touch with the family,” said Pandor. His family friends in Mumbai will be monitoring that the money is appropriately used.
Though the quadruplets have now shifted to their village in Kolhapur, and Pandor hasn’t yet met them, he yearns to see them grow up well. “I would like them to get English education,” he told Sarjerao. He only wishes the city’s rich folks would take a cue. “What’s the use of having wealth if you can’t share it,” he asks.
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