TN provides help to girl who won NASA trip
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami has extended financial assistance to a 14-year old girl from Namakkal to visit the US space agency NASA, for which she had qualified in an exam.
Abhinaya V, a ninth standard student, qualified for the visit by clearing the test conducted by private companies based in the US and in India for 6th to 12th standard students. At NASA, Abhinaya will take part in the International Space Science Competition (ISSC) and can also attend a seminar.
Palaniswami announced Rs200,000 support after he came to know that she was not able to meet the expenses.
Palaniswami congratulated Abhinaya as he announced the cash award from the Chief Minister’s
Public Relief Fund. “Taking part in a global space science symposium at NASA is a victory for her talent,” he said.
“I take great pleasure in receiving the assistance from the chief minister,” said the space enthusiast, who is a student at the Dr M S Udayamurthy school in Namakkal.
Abhinaya’s father P. Venkatachalam earns a living working as a plumber. He and his homemaker wife Sasikala were very excited that their daughter got selected, but were finding it hard to meet the expenses.
Abinaya will take the three-day online test in May 2020 at NASA. “I have been very interested in learning about space, science and technology from my childhood. I came to know that, on behalf of Go4guru, an online test would be conducted for school students to visit NASA. I wrote the test in September 2019 and qualified to visit NASA,” she was quoted as saying.
Abhinaya explained that she came from a below the poverty line (BPL) family.
A month ago, she asked Namakkal collector K Megraj for help. “As soon as I made the request, Ministerpthangamaniprovidedmewithrs200,000. Now, the CM has also granted the money,” she said. Separately on Monday, Palaniswami led the events as ruling Anna DMK party marked the 72nd birth anniversary of their late leader J.
Jayalalithaa. He launched what the party described as a mega sapling plantation drive. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, senior ministers and officials were present.
Palaniswami planted a sapling opposite to the Secretariat. Under this scheme, 7.2 million saplings will be planted across the state.
Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary was celebrated as State Girl Children Protection Day. “Girls who are growing in government run homes, those without parents and guardians will be given Rs200,000 after they complete 21 years,” the chief minister said. “This amount will be deposited in their bank account. This will ensure that they are able to lead a good life in the society.”