Barhet (Sahebganj), Oct. 20: The efforts of Saraswati Devi, a homemaker in Panchkathia village of Sahebganj district?s Barhet block, to promote literacy and education have caught the attention of none other than President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Held in high esteem by the people of Panchkathia ? where the British had hanged the legendary Murmu brothers ? Saraswati recently received a letter from the President for her ?exemplary contribution? in spreading literacy among the poor tribal people.

?We are proud of Saraswati. She managed to overcome every obstacle and continued to do her excellent work,? the villagers said.

Saraswati set up a self-help group with the help of local women on August 15, 2003. The mahila mandal has played a significant role in spreading literacy, especially among women, in its short but fruitful life.

Though literacy alone was not enough to solve the problems of the rural women, they have refused to resign to their fate.

?Though we are literate now, our condition has not improved much due to state apathy and lack of income opportunities. But we haven?t given up hope and believe that we can overcome the problems,? said Hopna Tudu, who looks after the expenses of the mahila mandal.

Residents of neighbouring villages greet Saraswati, a matriculate, with shouts of ?Jai Ma Saraswati? every time she visits them.

?She helped us realise the value of education. We are proud of her and a day will come when every mother will send her ward to school,? said Dukhia Devi.

After the death of her husband, Rajkumar Mishra, Saraswati?s three sons ? Jogendra, Pintu and Kaushal ? stopped going to school and started to look after the household.

Saraswati, along with her daughter Bindiya, started looking for jobs to support the family.