Official plays Good Samaritan, helps poor girl wed
ALLAHABAD : A poor young girl in Koraon tehsil, whose wedding was about to be called off owing to financial constraints, got married on Wednesday, thanks to the help extended by a government official.
Moved by the plight of the girl and her family, tehsildar Devendra Yadav assisted them with ₹11,000 and some household items. The girl’s father Bhunwar Khan of Badokhar village in Koraon is a labourer. He has five daughters. Khan recently fixed his eldest daughter’s marriage with a youth of a neighbouring village. He told the groom’s family that he wanted a simple marriage with only a few guests, but they were adamant on a grand welcome of ‘baratis’, besides a little pomp and show.
“My financial position did not allow any elaborate arrangements. We feared that the marriage may not take place, which would dent our prestige in the community. We were pleasantly surprised when tehsildar Devendra Yadav approached us.
He not only provided us with cash but also some household goods as a gift to the bride. With the help that he gave and some cash which we managed to collect from other sources, the marriage took place on Wednesday,” Khan said. Yadav, who was earlier posted in Phulpur, had also provided financial help to Progeria patient Ritesh. He has also been popular among people during his postings in Hathras, Agra and other places. “I always try to help people through various means. While I try to extend benefits of government schemes to people, I also help the needy out of my own pocket but there is nothing great about it. I spoke to the in-laws of Khan’s daughter to solemnize the marriage at the chief minister’s mass marriage scheme but they did not agree. I then extended a little financial help as the marriage was on verge of being called off. I am trying to raise awareness among people to approach the administration to take benefit under the mass marriage scheme,” Yadav said.