Pune couple wants soldiers in Siachen to ‘breathe easy’, so they sold their jewellery

Pune couple sells jewellery to help build oxygen plant for soldiers in Siachen

Pune, April 28: While our soldiers guard India's borders in the freezing cold of Siachen glacier so that we live in peace, hardly we realise the problems they endure on a daily basis in the region at a height of over 20,000 ft.

However, a couple in Pune, Maharashtra moved by the plight of soldiers, who have to struggle hard to even breathe because of low-level of oxygen in the area, decided to sell their jewellery to help build an oxygen-generation plant at the world's highest battleground.

"Couple in Pune has sold all their jewellery to construct an oxygen-generation plant for soldiers in Siachen. They say, 'the oxygen level is very low there & so an oxygen plant is needed. We decided to set it up as it's our duty to do something to help our soldiers' #Maharashtra," tweeted ANI.

The couple--Sumeedha and Yogesh Chithade--managed to raise Rs 1.25 lakh by selling their jewellery for the plant. If Sumeedha and Yogesh have their way, Siachen will get its second oxygen plant soon. Right now, Siachen only has one oxygen plant.

In fact, Sumeedha, a teacher, has long been working for the welfare of army personnel and their family members. She also inspires youngsters to join the Indian Army through her frequent lecture events.

The couple knows well that the money collected so far by them is not enough to build the oxygen plant and they require more finances to help materialise their dream project.

"More financial support will be required, "Yogesh, a former Air Force official, told ANI.
Talking about the reason behind taking the step to build an oxygen plant in Siachen, Sumeedha told ANI that she wanted to do this after getting to know the severe conditions in which the Indian Army personnel operated.

"I never thought what others did or didn't do for the Amry personnel. I wanted to do it, therefore, I sold my jewellery," added Sumeedha. Yogesh, who echoes his wife's sentiments, said that this was Sumeedha's "biggest sacrifice."

"She said that she doesn't require any kind of jewellery, therefore, we decided to take such a step," said Yogesh.