Former French First Lady visits Dharavi

Valerie Trierweiler in Mumbai to launch an NGO

January 27, 2014 11:54 pm | Updated May 13, 2016 12:43 pm IST - Mumbai:

“I don’t know what I will do with my life yet. I have some more years to live, though. I will take it as it comes. Don’t worry for me,” the former French First Lady, Valerie Trierweiler, said on Monday.

This was the first time she spoke in public after French President Francois Hollande officially announced their separation on Saturday.

Ms. Trierweiler was in Mumbai as part of ‘Action Contre la Faim’, an NGO that works to eradicate hunger. She was invited for the launch of the NGO, Fight Hunger Foundation. She said she was happy to be in Mumbai. “This is my third visit to India. The first time, I came as a journalist. My second visit was in the capacity of First Lady. This trip was organised six months ago and was being planned for a year. I had to come,” she said.

Asked how she envisaged her involvement with the project, considering she had undertakenthe mission when she became France’s First Lady, Ms. Trierweiler said: “I have spent 19 months. I have discovered a lot and gained experience. I will continue to do the work I took up as First Lady.” She said she was also appalled by cases of malnutrition in India. “A child dies of malnutrition every 30 seconds. India is a leading player in global economy now. But it still has cases of malnutrition. I feel terrible on seeing the misery. I have been to Africa and I feel the same there.”

Ms. Trierweiler visited Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, on Monday. She also went to Sion Hospital, an experience that according to her “was shattering.” “I held a malnourished baby in my arms and it was the most moving moment for me. When I [saw] the baby’s mother I was very moved. As a mother of three children, I can understand how tough it must be,” she said.

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