Preetam Kumar with (right) DPS PRO Rajesh Sinha. Picture by Amit Kumar

Bhagalpur, June 2: A youth’s dreams for higher studies, which could have been smashed because of poverty, have been saved by timely help from a voluntary organisation.

Naugachia sub-division resident Preetam Kumar, who secured the 1,771st rank in the OBC category in the IIT-JEE, would have not been able to take admission in the premier tech hubs because of acute financial crunch in his family. However, Angika Development Society (ADS), a voluntary organisation, came forward to offer help. Now the youth is all set to pursue a B Tech. He wants to be a mechanical engineer.

“Everybody in my family was very tensed because they knew that without adequate money, it would be impossible for me even to take admission in IIT,” said Preetam.

“We approached the local BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain, who assured us that he would urge the state welfare department to arrange the money,” he added. His family members also approached some local officials.

Help finally arrived when Rajesh Srivastava, vice-chairman of Delhi Public School (DPS), Bhagalpur, and his wife Zani Shabnam, the convener of Sankalp, a voluntary organisation, came forward and assured Preetam to provide scholarship for his B Tech course in IIT through ADS, and the mother body of DPS, Bhagalpur, and Sankalp.

“We came to know about Preetam and immediately decided to take appropriate steps to help him,” Srivastava told The Telegraph.

“The DPS people came as angels for us and solved our problems,” said Pramila Devi, mother of Preetam, at her home at Rajendar Colony.

With tears rolling down her eyes, the mother added: “They saved my boy. We do not have money to continue his education. Despite his talents, Preetam’s life would have been ruined if they did not provide the support.”

Sources said Preetam, earlier a student of Punama Pratapur High School, has always been a good student and got 66 per cent marks in Bihar School Examination Board exam in 2009.

His father, Bindashwari Prasad Singh, originally a resident of Choti Pasraha village in Khagaria district, migrated to Naugachia and now works in a factory in Pune.

“He works in a private factory and can hardly support us. My mother has been running the family. She works as a tailor,” Preetam said.

As present, Preetam is awaiting the results of Bihar Intermediate Council examination, which he took as a student of Bhagalpur City College.

Preetam’s elder brother Jitendar Kumar is in the Indian Army but has no relation with the family. His younger brother Prince Kumar is a Class XII student.

“My mother was instrumental in my success. She had, however, lost all hope as she knew that she would not be able to arrange Rs 1 lakh required for admission to the B Tech course in IIT,” he said.

Rajesh Sinha, public relations officer, DPS, said ADS has put forward some conditions to Preetam for the scholarship he will be given. For instance, he has to score 60 per cent marks in every semester.

“There are many youths like me in our country. Despite of their talents many students do not get the opportunity to continue with their education. But there are a few organisation like ADS which take care of us,” said Preetam.