The Indian Consulate in Chicago has come to the aid of Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi, a Hyderabad woman who was found starving on the streets of Chicago. Syeda, who had traveled to the US to pursue a master’s degree, was in a state of depression after all her belongings were stolen.
In a tweet, the consulate informed that they had successfully contacted Syeda Zaidi and offered assistance, including medical support and travel arrangements to India. They further revealed that Syeda had communicated with her mother in India, but she was yet to respond to their offer of support to return home.
Syeda’s condition came to light when Amjed Ullah Khan, a spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), a party based in Telangana, brought attention to her plight. After witnessing her distress on the streets, her mother, Syeda Wahaj Fatima, urgently wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging him to intervene and facilitate her daughter’s immediate return to India.
The letter explained that Syeda Lulu Minhaj Zaidi had been pursuing her Master’s in Information Science from TRINE University, Detroit, USA since August 2021. However, for the past two months, she had lost contact with her family, and they later learned of her dire situation through Hyderabadi youths. Her belongings were stolen, and she found herself in a state of deep depression and starvation on the streets of Chicago.
The MBT spokesperson shared that after their appeal, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Consulate in Chicago responded, stating that Syeda was not currently fit to travel. In response to the situation, efforts are being made to send her parents to Chicago to take care of her. However, her parents do not have passports, and the MBT has reached out to IT Minister KTR (Telangana) for assistance in obtaining passports and visas from the US Consulate in Hyderabad.
The quick response from the government, the Indian Consulate in Chicago, and various organizations that have offered to help has been appreciated by all parties involved. Syeda’s well-being and safe return to India remain the top priority as the situation unfolds.
As Syeda’s story gains attention, it highlights the importance of supporting students and individuals abroad, especially during challenging times. The assistance provided by the Indian authorities and the outpouring of help from various organizations exemplify the value of international collaboration and care for citizens, even when they are far from home.
