She Walked From Kanpur To Lucknow To Meet CM Yogi. A Year Later, Her Life Has Changed

Published 3 July 2026 · local

She Walked From Kanpur To Lucknow To Meet CM Yogi. A Year Later, Her Life Has Changed Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 21:21

She Walked From Kanpur To Lucknow To Meet CM Yogi. A Year Later, Her Life Has Changed Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 21:21 IST Khushi's story first drew statewide attention last year when she walked from Kanpur to Lucknow to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and seek help. Rapid Read District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh said the administration was implementing the Chief Minister's directions to ensure Khushi's complete rehabilitation. A year after she walked from Kanpur to Lucknow seeking help from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, 19-year-old divyang girl Khushi Gupta has received another major boost towards rebuilding her life, with the Uttar Pradesh administration providing her family a free e-rickshaw to secure a stable livelihood. The e-rickshaw was handed over to Khushi’s father, Kallu Gupta, by Kanpur District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh at the Collectorate on Friday. The vehicle was provided free of cost by NRJ Electric Motor Vehicle Private Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and has been registered in the name of Khushi’s mother, Geeta Gupta.

For years, Kallu Gupta earned a living by driving a rented e-rickshaw, with a significant portion of his daily income going towards rent. The family’s financial situation worsened after he suffered a leg injury in a road accident, affecting his ability to work. Officials said the District Magistrate initiated the process of providing the family with a free e-rickshaw after learning about their financial hardship. The vehicle is expected to provide the family with a permanent source of income. Khushi’s story first drew statewide attention last year when she walked from Kanpur to Lucknow to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and seek help. Unable to hear or speak properly, she appealed for support for her treatment, education and rehabilitation. Following the meeting, the Chief Minister directed officials to extend all possible assistance to her. As part of the rehabilitation efforts, Khushi underwent a cochlear implant in February 2026. Officials said the surgery has significantly improved her hearing, while regular speech therapy has enabled her to gradually begin speaking.

She has also been admitted to Class 9 at the Integrated Special Secondary (Residential) School on Mohan Road in Lucknow to ensure her education continues. The handover ceremony turned emotional as Khushi expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister, saying, “Thank you, Yogi Ji." Her mother, Geeta Gupta, said the family had been worried about Khushi’s treatment, education and their livelihood, but those concerns had now largely been addressed. District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh said the administration was implementing the Chief Minister’s directions to ensure Khushi’s complete rehabilitation. “Our effort has been to support not just her treatment and education, but also provide the family with a sustainable source of livelihood. The objective is not merely to provide financial assistance but to make such families self-reliant and enable them to live with dignity," he said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Saurabh Verma Senior Sub-editor Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor.