Darbhanga: Jyoti Kumari from Bihar, who cycled all the way to Bihar from Gurugram during the nationwide lockdown, again hogged the limelight on Monday. Jyoti had her moment of life when she got to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a recipient of the “Pradhanmantri Bal Puraskar”.
The 16-year-old was one of the 32 children from across the country who reached their respective National Informatics Centre offices and had interaction with the prime minister via video conferencing on Monday, reported news agency PTI.
The girl’s father, a former e-rickshaw driver, mother and officials of the local administration were present on the occasion.
PM Modi showered accolades on the children for their respective acts of courage and determination and advised them to study and, in particular, get inspired by biographies of great men and women.
“It is a matter of pride for Darbhanga that Jyoti, who has already been made the brand ambassador by the state government for its drive against drugs, has been conferred with yet another honour,” Darbhanga District Magistrate SM Thyagarajan was quoted as saying on the occasion by PTI.
Upon learning about her father’s accident, the girl had to go to Gurugram, accompanying her mother, an Anganwadi worker. Her mother had come back to Darbhanga to tend to her job and other children while Jyoti stayed put to take care of her father.
With pressure mounting from the landlord’s side to pay up the rent, nationwide lockdown with no work made the matter worse of Jyoti and her father in Gurugram. Her father was out of job since the accident.
Borrowing some money and buying second-hand cycle to travel 1,200 kilometres was the only option left with them to wriggle out of the tough situation. Despite father’s scepticism, Jyoti paddled her way back to Darbhanga with her father riding pillion.
The girl had completed her 1,200km-journey in eight days cycling 50 to 60 kilometres on a daily basis.
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