Gujarat man won't have to sell kidney for son's studies

Sahil Patel couldn't stop smiling as he sat on the brand new bicycle. Until Saturday, the bright boy, who cleared his Class 10 exam with 90.59 percentile, wasn't sure if he would be studying further.

Moved by the teen's plight, which had forced his father to declare that he would sell a kidney to fund his son's education, Navsari MP CR Patil has offered financial assistance to the tribal boy from Upsal village in Vaansda taluka.

Patil and other members of Navsari district panchayat have managed Sahil's admission in a higher secondary school and have also provided material help. Sahil aspires to become a doctor.

"We have got Sahil enrolled in AB School in Chikli. However, he has to board a bus from his village, but the nearest bus stop is about 5 kilometres away. So we have also arranged for a bicycle for him to catch the bus," Patil told DNA. The MP said his aides found that the family did not have much to feed themselves. "We have also provided them with ration that would suffice them for a year."

Sahil's father Jayesh had lost his eyesight in an accident and his wife is the only bread earner of the family. Jayesh said he is not in a position to afford fees for Class 11 and 12. He had said he could not see his son stay at home and would rather sell a kidney to raise money. The family's story was carried in newspapers and went viral on social media as well.

Patil said he learnt about Sahil through an aide. He instructed Amita Patel, president of Navsari district Panchayat to track Sahil. Amita, along with Ashwin Patel, president of Chikli Taluka Panchayat and Mukesh Patel, president of Vaansda Taluka Panchayat then visited the family.

All Smiles

• Sahil Patel got 90.59 percentile in Class X, but his father was not in a position to pay fees for Class XI
• The boy’s father had said he would sell a kidney to raise funds. Moved his story, MP Patil stepped in