UP govt steps in to help Noida teen, CM sanctions Rs 5 lakh

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to a 13-year-old boy who lives in Noida and used to fund his education by weighing passengers outside a Metro station.

Harendra Singh Chauhan, the teenager, got an opportunity to meet the CM on Sunday in Lucknow. The call for the meeting was conveyed to the local district administration who took the boy and his father to the CM’s official residence.

“The CM spoke to the boy about his education and future aspirations. He expressed happiness about his dedication towards continuing his education. The CM announced Rs 5 lakh from his discretionary-fund to support the boy’s education and for the livelihood of the family. The money will be transferred to his father’s bank account,” said Rajesh Yadav, additional district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar.

A sudden meeting took the boy’s father Ram Gopal Singh by surprise on September 26. A government official contacted him and conveyed the message about a meeting with the CM.

“I did not expect that we would get a chance to meet the CM. I spoke to him about my son’s future. He assured to help him with his entire education. We will keep the money safe. I want my son to fulfil his dreams of becoming a doctor and I want him to live a dignified life,” said Singh, the boy’s father.

Overwhelmed with the CM’s gesture, Harendra said that he was grateful to the CM. “I was very excited to sit in an airplane. This was my first time and I loved it. I was not scared at all,” he said.

On September 24, Akhilesh’ wife, Dimple Yadav, had directed the Gautam Budh Nagar magistrate to get in touch with the boy after she came across a post on a social networking site about the boy studying under a streetlight.

“I called the boy to my office and assured him about payment of his school fees. He told me that his school is far from his home and he faces difficulty in getting public transport to his school. That is why I am also offering him a bicycle,” said NP Singh, district magistrate.