Help pours in for Himachal villager who sold cow to buy smartphone for children's education

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, July 23

The plight of Kuldip Kumar of Gummer village in Jwalamukhi, who had sold his cow to purchase a smartphone to facilitate his children’s online education, has evoked an overwhelming response as help poured in from different quarters, including film star Sonu Sood.

READ ALSO: Man sells cow to buy smartphone for online studies of his children

Queries started pouring in as soon as the news item under headline, “Man sells cow to buy smartphone for online studies of his children” was highlighted in The Tribune today. The Tribune shared the bank details of his wife with the callers, who were moved seeing his penury. Hundreds of calls were received from Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh, Gurugram and Jalandhar as people wanted to extend hand to Kuldip.

Various television channels also made queries with noted journalist Barkha Dutt also seeking his details. Amit Barua from The Hindu, New Delhi, who shared the news item on Twitter, was the first caller who later transferred Rs 10,000 into his account.

Sonu Sood, a film star, also transferred money to Kuldip’s account after obtaining details from this reporter. Abhijeet from Mumbai also transferred Rs 10,000 into his account. J Dasuja from Mumbai also came for immediate help and assured monthly assistance to the family for education of their children.

Most callers wanted Kuldip to bring back his cow that he had sold for Rs 6,000. Many said money should be utilised for the construction of a house as he is living in a cow shed.

When contacted by The Tribune, Kuldip said adequate amount had been deposited in his bank account but he did not have the details since he had not visited the bank. He said his first priority was to construct a house as he had not received any financial help under the PM Awas Yojna despite his name being added to the list long ago.

The Governor sought a status report from the Kangra administration on Kuldip’s condition. Later, a tehsildar visited the village and assured Kuldip of all possible help. However, Kuldip insisted on financial assistance for construction of his house.

Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati directed the Jwalamukhi administration to expedite his case so that funds could be provided to him for the construction of a house under the PM Awas Yojana. The DC also told the BDO, Dehra Gopipur, to add his name to the BPL at the earliest.

However, what is unfortunate is that a poverty-stricken man gets help only when his plight was highlighted and not in normal routine, which deprives the most needy and eligible of benefits meant for them.

Governor seeks report

The Governor sought a status report from the Kangra administration on Kuldip’s condition. Later, a tehsildar visited the village and assured Kuldip of all possible help. However, Kuldip insisted for financial assistance for the construction of his house.

Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati immediately directed the Jwalamukhi administration to expedite his case so that funds could be provided to him for the construction of a house under the PM Awas Yojana.

Sonu Sood, Abhijit, Barkha Dutt pitch in

• Hundreds of calls were received from Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh, Gurugram and Jalandhar as people wanted to extend hand to Kuldip
• Various television channels also made queries with noted journalist Barkha Dutt also seeking his details
• Amit Barua from The Hindu, New Delhi, who shared the news item on Twitter, was the first caller who later transferred Rs 10,000 to his account
• Sonu Sood, a film star, also transferred money to Kuldip’s account after obtaining details from this reporter
• Abhijeet from Mumbai also transferred Rs 10,000 into his account