Geeta's Triumph: From Pakistan to Government Job Aspirations

Geeta, a 33-year-old woman with speech and hearing disabilities who returned to India from Pakistan in 2015, has passed her Class 8 exams with special merit. She now seeks a government job to achieve financial independence and continue her studies.

Geeta, a woman with speech and hearing disabilities, who captured national attention upon returning from Pakistan in 2015, is now seeking a government job after passing her Class 8 exams. Officials reported on Wednesday that the 33-year-old achieved an impressive score of 411 out of 600, particularly excelling in social science and Sanskrit.

The Indore-based Anand Service Society, an NGO, has been aiding Geeta's integration into mainstream society since her return. 'Geeta is thrilled with her exam results and has hopeful aspirations for her future,' said Gyanendra Purohit, the NGO's secretary and a sign language expert.

According to Purohit, Geeta used sign language during a video call to express her desire to both continue her education and secure a government job. With her newly acquired qualifications, she now meets the minimum educational criteria for recruitment as a Class IV employee in central and state governments.

Purohit further revealed that Geeta, whose real name is Radha, lives with her mother in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Coming from a financially disadvantaged family, Geeta is determined to become self-sufficient. 'As of now, she does not wish to get married,' added Purohit.

Her journey to Pakistan began nearly 23 years ago when she accidentally boarded the Samjhauta Express as a child. Discovered alone at Lahore railway station by Pakistani authorities, she was subsequently adopted by Bilquis Edhi of Pakistan's Edhi Foundation and taken to Karachi.

Thanks to the efforts of the late Sushma Swaraj, former external affairs minister, Geeta returned to India on October 26, 2015. She resided in an NGO facility in Indore until finding her family in Maharashtra in 2021, where she currently resides.

(With inputs from agencies.)