IIT, Delhi, student Nilesh Kumar. Picture by Mohan Mahato

Purnea, Dec. 14: Financial assistance of Rs 25,000 has come as a divine intervention for Nilesh Kumar, a second-year mechanical engineering student at IIT, Delhi.

Nilesh, a differently abled youth from the district who hails from a financially weak family, had been running from pillar to post for some monetary help so that he could pay the fees for the third year.

Yesterday, his worries came to an end for the time being, as Sambhav Forum, a volunteer group of the district, paid him a cheque of Rs 25,000.

Nilesh, a resident of Harerampur village under Janki Nagar police station, recently met superintendent of police (SP) Amit Lodha and told him about his problems. Soon Lodha facilitated Rs 25,000 on behalf of Sambhav Forum.

“The financial assistance would not play a huge role in his (Nilesh’s) life but it would motivate him and that would reflect in his studies. As far as educational loan is concerned, banks require some guarantee money. However, as Nilesh hails from a very poor family, he does not have any such source for the same,” Lodha told The Telegraph.

“Such meritorious students must be helped. It will inculcate a sense of responsibility in him and also save his career. Moreover, such assistance will open avenues for social reformation,” Lodha, who heads Sambhav Forum, said.

Lodha said the forum was set up at Nalanda in 2001 where he was posted as an SP then. “This non-registered forum is active in Purnea for the past three months. Several eminent people from the area are part of this group, who come together to help meritorious students hailing from poor families,” he said.

Nilesh expressed his gratitude to the forum and said he would now be able to continue his studies. “Now, I will be able to prepare for my second-year exams without worrying about the third year fees of Rs 75,000. My parents have already sold their land and several buffaloes to arrange for my fees and hostel expenses,” he said, adding that many villagers asked his parents why they admitted him to the institute if they could not continue paying for his studies.

A member of Sambhav Forum, Dr Devi Ram, said they could extend more financial help if Nilesh brings an improved report card. “We gave him Rs 25,000 because we did not want him to waste any money in college,” he said.