When a 30-year-old ardent fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's was locked in a bitter legal battle for divorce in 2011, she decided to donate the entire alimony to Swachh Bharat Kosh for a clean and healthy India. Six years later, Dr Megha Mahajan of Jammu has fulfilled her promise and donated Rs 45 lakh to Swachh Bharat Kosh.
"I got Rs 45 lakh as alimony after my divorce settlement in November last year," says the dental surgeon, who was married to a man from Jammu. "I am a big fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he is doing such a wonderful job for India. I thought I would donate the money for a Swachh Bharat as there isn't a better cause than this."
The underlying thought was also to challenge biases connected to divorce. "I wanted to prove wrong those who accuse women of extorting money under the pretext of alimony," she says, adding. "I had vowed that I would take the money but not keep a penny of it to silence those voices."
The Hardiwar-resident has no regrets about her donation. "My parents have given me a good value system and education," she says. Along with the donation, Mahajan has also written to the Swachh Bharat committee about a water and air purification project. "Let us see whether they consider it," she says.
Clean Divorce
- Dr Megha Mahajan’s wanted to challenge biases connected with divorce. “I wanted to prove wrong those who accuse women of extorting money as alimony.”
