8-yr-old donates birthday money for drought relief

Moved by the plight of farmers in drought-hit areas of Maharashtra, Kanishka Dongre, all of eight, decided he wanted to do something for them.

Moved by the plight of farmers in drought-hit areas of Maharashtra, Kanishka Dongre, all of eight, decided he wanted to do something for them.

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He told his parents he would forgo his birthday (March 19) celebrations this year and donate the money to the chief minister’s drought relief fund instead.

On Wednesday, Kanishka accompanied by his parents, Madhavi and Raju, handed over a cheque of Rs 5,000 to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan at Mantralaya.

Kanishka’s proud parents said he used to listen to the news every day and ask about the drought. Madhavi said she patiently explained to him how much people were suffering because of it.

One day he asked her, “How come we are lucky? Children from these places do not even have food to eat and here I am eating pizza and burgers. This year, I will not celebrate my birthday.”

Madhavi said she was shocked and asked him what he wanted to do then. Kanishka told her he wanted to celebrate his birthday with children in these areas.