Days after receiving a "meaningful" response from President Barack Obama to her thoughts on the controversial issue of health care reform, a Chicago-based Indian-American woman has said she hopes the political leaders in India too adopt a "humane approach" to problems faced by 'aam aadmi'. Sunita Chopra had written a letter to President Obama a month ago about how she had to struggle with huge medical bills during the treatment of her mother who is suffering from severe osteoporosis. She got Obama's reply in a White House envelope recently. After seeing Obama scrambling hard to push for health care reform, Chopra thought of sharing her story with him and give him an advice on the issue. "I had never expected to get a response to my letter. I wish political leaders in India too adopt this humane approach and the common man in India is heard the same way," Chopra told PTI. She said if leaders in India respond to problems of the masses in a similar manner, they would win confidence of the people and the common man would also be encouraged to support them and work with them.
In the letter, Obama cited the problems faced by his own mother as she battled cancer. "I share the sense of urgency that Americans like you have voiced. I watched as my ailing mother struggled with stacks of insurance forms in the last
Chopra said the fact that she got a "meaningful" response from the President in two weeks after writing to him shows how "sensitive he is to people's issues and his promptness indicates that he means business". Obama also states in the letter that while tough choices need to be made, "I will bring businesses and workers, health care providers and patients, and Democrats and Republicans together to create a system that delivers better care and puts the nation on a much sounder long-term fiscal path." Excited to see the White House envelope in her mail box, Chopra said she intended to frame the "one-page, 7-paragraph letter ... and signed by Obama" and treasure it for life. The White House receives over 10,000 letters, e-mails and faxes every day, out of which 10 are selected by Director of the White House Office of Correspondence Mike Kelleher and delivered to Obama, who sometimes answers them by hand.
