An Obama Dinner Invite for A Disabled Indian Girl

MUMBAI: Next week, U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife will host 12 disabled people from all over the world, including one from Mumbai, for an exclusive dinner at the White House.

The lucky Mumbaikar from suburban Goregaon is athlete Neha P Naik, 23, who is a Special Olympics International Global Messenger, besides taking part in the 100 metres and shot-put events.

"It is a great honour and I feel very good. It's the best birthday gift I can get," an excited Neha told IANS, in the midst of last-minute preparations for the momentous occasion slated at the White House July 31.

She turns 24 on July 27, her equally excited mother Asha and realtor father Prakash Naik said. The family originally hails from Goa and is now settled in Mumbai.

For the event, Neha will be accompanied by her mentor and teacher Jonita Rodrigues of the 33-year-old Punarvas Education Society's Shri Devrajji Gundecha Punarvas Special School and Vocational Training Centre for Mentally Handicapped.

Asha said that Neha was born a normal child, but suffered high fever at the age of five, which affected her natural mental growth.

"We admitted her to a regular school, but she just couldn't cope up with her studies. Later, as we realized that she was a different child, we admitted her to Punarvas school," she said.

Also Read:
India's Peacekeeping Efforts Praised By UN Delegation