YC takes up the cause of starving athlete

Bihar Governor Devanand Konwar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have been requested to take up with the Centre the cause of Kirti, an athlete facing starvation to death, and help her pursue her studies as well as train at the Athletic Institute in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Talking to reporters, state YC president Lalan Kumar said he had written separate letters to Konwar and Kumar for Kirti's admission at the institute in Siliguri and waiver of all fees for her studies, training and lodging.

He said he would personally meet the Union Minister for Sports and request him to adopt the athlete and provide her necessary assistance for her career.

''I will highlight the athlete's plight before AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and seek necessary direction in this regard,'' he said.

Kumar appealed to around 7.5 lakh members of the state youth Congress to donate Re 1 each to help the athlete and her three siblings, left orphaned after the death of her mother.

He said he had constituted a committee comprising senior party leaders to raise funds to financially support the athlete.

Meanwhile, Canara Bank provided Rs 5,000 to Kirti on Saturday.

Sheikhpura District Magistrate Birendra Prasad Yadav had on Friday provided Kirti Rs 10000 from the district sports association and an equal amount from the National Family Benefit Scheme.

Kirti, a BA student in a college at Barbigha in Sheikpura, and her three younger brothers are facing starvation after the death of their mother, the only earning member of the family, last week.

As her father had died in 2006, the girl was reported to be thinking of selling her medals to pay for the last rites of her mother.