How social media helped a Noida boy win his fight for education

Thirteen-year-old Harendra Singh Chauhan will not have to sit on the pavement to pay for his education again. Harendra, who is a Class 9 student from Noida, needed some money for school supplies. As a last resort, he took a weighing scale to Noida City Centre metro station and sat on the pavement, waiting for people to tip him for checking their weight.

A passer-by noticed the boy finishing his homework on the pavement and shared his story on Facebook with a photo. The post went viral and brought the boy large-scale media attention. Many NGOs, business houses, entrepreneurs and politicians stepped up to help him, including UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav called the boy to Lucknow and facilitated him for his impressive will power and zeal to study. He handed over a Rs 5 lakh cheque to Harendra and asked the Noida administration to meet his academic needs.

"As and when required, we will pitch in with funds for his education so that he can achieve his goals," the DM said. "The money given by the CM will be kept in a fixed deposit account so that the interest generated from the amount can be utilised as a steady source of funds for Harendra's education," he added.

This is not the first time Yadav has extended help to someone after their story was shared on social media. Last week, the UP Chief Minister also helped an elderly typist who was harassed by the police.

Speaking to the Times of India, Harendra said, "I am grateful to the chief minister. However, I do not want any other help as now that my father has got a job, I am confident he will be able to support me and my family." Earlier, Harendra had revealed that his goal is to serve in the Indian army.