Running barefoot, girl wins race

Our Correspondent

Una, February 9

Philanthropists and social organizations have come to the assistance of Baksho Devi, a student of government school Ispur in Una district, who stole the limelight at the district level sports meet organized recently by the Youth Services and Sports Department.

Belonging to an economically poor family, she had run barefoot in the chilling cold to win the 5,000 m race.

Vice-Chairman of the State Disaster Management Board and president of Sarv Kalyankari Sanstha, a Hamirpur-based social organization, Rajinder Rana handed over Rs 21,000 as financial assistance to Baksho Devi at her residence in Ispur village on Sunday.

Baksho Devi is one of the four daughters of Bimla Devi, who had lost her husband nine years ago. She has been living in a thatched mud house with her daughters at her father’s house in Ispur.

The family survives on marginal land holding besides a meagre monthly earning from the sale of buffalo milk.

Rana said the Chief Minister has recommended Baksho Devi’s name for the Government Sports Hostel in Bilaspur, where she will get free board, lodging, education and sports coaching from the coming academic session.