MP CM assures help to ragpicker's son who cracked AIIMS-entrance
Less than an hour after a Twitter user sought help from MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan for a ragpicker's son who cracked the AIIMS entrance exam, he has assured immediate financial assistance. Chouhan also said the government will pay the fees of 20-year-old Asharam Choudhary under the Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana. "I'll speak with (Asharam) and congratulate him on his success and determination," he tweeted.
Chouhan responds to tweet within minutes
Asharam's talent has earned laurels since childhood
Asharam, native of Vijayaganj Mandi village in Dewas district, has penned a success story since childhood. When he was in Class 7, a local businessman and a doctor stepped in to finance his studies after seeing his talent. He continued making his family proud: in Class 10, he was chosen for the Young Scientist Award and made it through the Silver Zone Foundation Olympiad.
He secured AIR 707 in first try
After Class 10, Pune's Dakshana Foundation took over. Asharam was one of the 75 students selected for free coaching for entrance exams. And in the first try itself, he nailed it: the boy secured all India rank 707 overall and 141 in OBC category in the AIIMS test. He has now made it to the AIIMS at Jodhpur, and will begin classes Monday.
Asharam has a lot of people to thank
Throughout everything, his family stood by him. They live in a house made with hay and plastic sheets. His father's ragpicking is the only source of income. But "father got me whatever I needed." He also expressed gratitude for local additional-divisional magistrate Kailash Bundela, who helped him get his OBC certificate when other officials were demanding bribes, and doctors in the region who supported him.
But will Chouhan's help be enough?
Despite CM Chouhan's assurance, Asharam is doubtful. He had applied to the Medhavi Vidyarthi Yojana, which only assured him college fees, he said. But his fee is zero because of his rank. "I have to pay Rs. 36,000 for mess and around Rs. 8,000 for books," he told TOI.
For now, he is focused on making a better future
Asharam said he started dreaming of becoming a doctor when he saw a quack earning Rs. 50 in minutes by prescribing medicines. His father earned less in a day, he recalled. Now that one goal's made, he plans to earn gold medals every year during his MBBS course. He said he will eventually return to his village. "There isn't a single qualified doctor here."
