Poonawallas secure house of topper Covid orphan

BHOPAL: Vanisha Pathak can finally heave a sigh of relief. Her home will remain hers.
The schoolgirl had topped Bhopal in her class 10 exams in 2021 by scoring 99.8% despite losing both parents to Covid but was being bombarded with notices from a financial institution for repossession of the house for non-repayment of EMIs. Her letters, explaining her situation and seeking some time, had gone unanswered until TOI reported about her courage and plight, triggering an outpouring of support for her.
Hundreds came forward to help Vanisha. Many, including the CEO of Serum Institute of India Adar Poonawalla offered to pay off the home loan but it was tangled in legal issues as Vanisha hadn’t turned 18 and didn’t have a legal guardian on paper. Even finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman took note of the case and directed LIC to look into the matter as Vanisha’s father had taken the home loan from LIC Housing Finance Ltd.
Vanisha turned 18 in November. And now, the chairman of Serum Institute of India Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and CEO Villoo Poonawalla Foundation Adar Poonawalla have given her Rs 27.4 lakh to free her house of the loan burden.
Vanisha said, “I am thankful to Poonawalla ji for their support in saving my home. That was the last thing we have after losing parents. We will always be grateful.”