PM announces Rs0.5m for shoemaker’s son

Ravtesh Kumar came first in matric exams in the district with 975 out of 1,050 marks.

BAHAWALPUR:

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has announced Rs500,000 for Ravtesh Kumar, a shoemaker’s son in Basti Kahoor who has topped the matriculation examination.

Following the announcement, the family distributed sweets among the neighborhood and celebrated on the beat of drums and sang Cholistani folk songs. The village presented a scene of a festivity, where everyone participated in jubilance.

The boy’s father, Purkhiya Raj, had earlier said that his son could not continue his education as he could not afford to finance it.

Kumar told The Express Tribune that he had wanted to become a doctor. He said he had worked day and night to come first in the examinations. He said besides studying, he had also been helping his father at the shoemaking workshop, to support the family. He said his father used to give him a four-hour break to study for the exams. He said he would also study at night after the workshop was closed.

Raj said he earned around Rs150 a day, which he said, was not enough to provide for a family.

“How could I send my son to college with this money?,” he asked.

He said he had earlier appealed the chief minister for financial support after he (chief minister) had announced support for some other students who topped the exams. He thanked the prime minister for announcing money for his son’s education.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2012.