Hemant Soren came to the rescue of an 18-year-old student who had tweeted to the chief minister that he is finding it difficult to pursue higher studies.

Ankit Kumar, a resident of Bokaro district, Jharkhand, cleared matriculation with 96.2 per cent from Jharkhand Academic Board (JAC- state board) in 2022. In a tweet on Thursday, Ankit narrated about his poor financial condition as his parents were physically challenged which hindered him from pursuing higher education.

On Friday, Hemant tweeted to Bokaro deputy commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary to extend full support to Ankit to facilitate his higher studies.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ankit said he had passed matriculation in 2022 from Upgraded High School, Pannu with 96.2 per cent.

“I am pursuing an intermediate in science from Rijhu Nath Inter College, Mahuatand, and currently in my first year. However, my mother (39) who used to work in other fields had her leg fractured as she fell while running from a bullock in the agriculture field. Her right was damaged earlier this year due to a road mishap. My father is not well and suffers from poor sight and has medical problems in abdomen after surgery. I am the only son in my family having three sisters,” said Ankit.

Hemant Soren. File picture

“I have an ambition of preparing for UPSC but I was unable to continue my intermediate in a pure science (physics, chemistry, and mathematics) as I have to pay a tuition fees annually of Rs 15,000 and college fees of Rs 5,000 annually after my mother’s health problem. One of my friends advised me to take Twitter help to reach out to the chief minister. I did that on Thursday. I did not expect that I would be getting such a prompt response,” he said.

Chaudhary held a meeting with Ankit and his mother Biraju Devi at the Bokaro district collectorate on Saturday.

“The administration will meet studies expenses of Ankit along with arranging science coaching in a good institution. Since his mother had already been working we will be linking her with the Chief Minister’s Employment Generation Scheme or Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Scheme (JSLPS) so that she can earn and sustain her family,” said Chaudhary.

The administration has also immediately arranged for the admission of Ankit’s younger sister studying in Class 11 in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya (government residential school) at Gomia.

Ankit’s father Ashok Prajapati will also be sent to the Bokaro Sadar Hospital for a complete medical check-up and treatment.