Veerni continues its work in saving the girl child. Discrimination against girls continues to be widespread, but the team is making progress. Veerni first came across the case of Badami, the 21 month old daughter of illiterate parents in 2004. She weighed only 5.5 kilos and was not wanted by her parents and grandmother. Attempts to hospitalize the girl failed, and instead the parents took her to a "Shaman" who branded her with a hot iron to ward off evil spirits.
However the Veerni team was determined to save the girl. They treated her wounds and provided her with regular nutritional supplements for several years. Eventually the parents and grandmother cooperated and Badami is now a healthy and bright girl who is loved by her family. She is currently nine years old and attending school full-time, dreaming of becoming a teacher.
The Veerni team continues to fight these battles on a daily basis in an attempt to save and educate as many girls as possible.