Guwahati: Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced special financial aid for Mamoni Das, 50, a widow, who ekes out a living as a vendor.

She is a resident of Rajabari village at Bokakhat of Golaghat district in Upper Assam.

The government took the initiative after many people, including singer Angaraag Papon Mahanta, and various NGOs tweeted on social media to the minister.

"I came to know about the woman from a Facebook post. A boy from Golaghat uploaded somephotographs and wrote about her struggle. So, on November 21, I tweeted about her and urged the state government to help her. My tweet was also re-tweeted by many people, including Papon da and finally Sarma tweeted about the financial help," said lyricist and playwright Rajdweep.

Das's husband, a daily wage earner, died in an accident five years ago.

After her husband's demise, she started a business of selling grams in the locality. She is the sole bread earner of the three-member family along with her mother-in-law Kula, 70, and daughter Rima, 16.

"Our daily income is around Rs 100-Rs 300 in a day. We are happy to hear about the aid," Rima, a class X student of Rajabari High School, said.

"Now, we can set up a permanent shop if we get the financial aid," she added.