Special powerlifter Neha Rajak on Friday received Rs 50,000 as financial aid from Special Olympics Bharat (SOB).

Special Olympics Jharkhand (SOJ) director Bailey Bodhanwala presented the cheque to the 19-year-old mentally impaired powerlifter in the presence of her parents Vinod and Anju.

SOJ assistant area director Satbir Singh Sahota and Olympian Harbhajan Singh were among those who attended the function.

Keeping in mind the acute financial crisis faced by the Rajaks, SOJ had requested SOB, the national organization promoting intellectually impaired athletes, to sanction Rs 1 lakh to Neha. However, only Rs 50,000 was sanctioned.

Sahota said the money would be adjusted once Neha receives a cash award of Rs 4 lakh from the ministry of sports and youth affairs for winning 4 bronze medals in the Special Olympics International World Summer Games held at Abu Dhabi in 2019.

“The money would be of great help to the Rajaks. The SOB national director (finance) Air Commander Lalit Sharma is pursuing Neha’s cash award. We are sure there would be no further delay,” Sahota added.

Vinod, who worked at a laundry in Bistupur but lost his job due to the nationwide lockdown, said he was feeling highly relieved.

“I thank the SOB and SOJ for helping us in a crisis. At least, now we have some breathing space,” he said.

The special powerlifter and her family, who reside in Sonari, are undergoing severe financial crisis since the nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus was imposed in March this year.

The family received some monetary aid from different quarters, but the resources are depleted.

Sahota, along with the District Legal Services Authority provided grocery to Neha’s family, while Bodhanwala has contributed Rs 10,000 for clearing their house rent.

A UK-based business has also donated Rs 10,000 for the struggling family.

Moreover, the state sports department has promised Rs 2 lakh to Neha for winning medals at international games from the Sports Welfare Fund Scheme.