In what could be a perfect tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao’ scheme launched a couple of weeks back stigmatising the female foeticide, a physically challenged father trekked up all the way to Tirumala for the darshan of the presiding deity for being blessed with a girl child.

K. Vijay (38), a farmer of Paitaveta village of Rayadurgam taluk in Anantapur, during his previous visit in January last had prayed to undertake a walkathon to the sacred town if blessed with a girl child.

With his wife Lakshmi giving birth to a girl child on January 5, he embarked on the trek to fulfil his vow. It is against this backdrop that he along with his friend Thippaya Swamy reached Tirumala along the gruelling Alipiri footpath route measuring the steep steps and hilly terrains on Friday evening. The impassioned devotee is already blessed with a two-year old son Lohith.

Vijay, a farmer, treks to Tirumala for fulfilling his vow on being blessed with a girl child