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Ranchi, June 30 (PTI): Budding athlete Geeta Kumari was forced to sell vegetables in the streets of Jharkhand's Ramgarh district to make ends meet.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren's intervention helped Kumari to get INR 50,000 from the Ramgarh district administration and also a monthly stipend of INR 3,000 to pursue her athletics career.
Soren received information on his twitter handle that Kumari has turned into a roadside vegetable seller due to financial problems. The chief minister directed the Ramgarh deputy commissioner to assist Kumari financially so that she could pursue her athletics career.
The Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sandeep Singh gave a cheque of INR 50,000 to Kumari on Monday and also announced INR 3,000 monthly stipend to the athlete and arranged for her training at a sports centre, an official release said.
Kumari had won eight gold medals at state-level walking competitions and won a silver medal and a bronze medal in competitions held in Kolkata, the release said
Wishing the athlete all success in the world of sports, the deputy commissioner said, "There are several sportspersons in Ramgarh who are capable of winning laurels for the country, and the administration will ensure they get support."
Kumari's cousin Dhanjay Prajapati said, "She sells vegetables and also is a final year BA student in Ananda College, Hazaribag, in the neighbouring district. Her family is financially weak and my sister wants to pursue her pet event. Now that the administration has given assistance she is very happy."
Earlier this month the Jharkhand government had provided financial assistance to national level archer Sonu Khatoon of Dhanbad district, who was forced to sell vegetables to earn a living for her family.