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Gandhinagar, Oct 11 (IANS) Sarita Gaikwad, an accomplished athlete from Gujarat’s tribal region of Dangs, has won many honors for the country, but her journey from a remote village to the international sporting arena was marked by hardship, perseverance and the timely support of Narendra Modi, who was the chief minister of Gujarat at the time.
Sarita’s story began with access to education through Kanya Kelavani, a school enrollment initiative launched by Narendra Modi to promote girls’ education in Gujarat.
According to a post shared by Modi Story on X, this initiative was the first step that opened doors of opportunity for Sarita and many other girls from underprivileged backgrounds.
As she grew up, Sarita discovered her passion for athletics and found another platform to shine through Gujarat’s Khel Mahakumbh, a state-level sports initiative that encourages rural talent.
Recalling her humble beginnings, Sarita said, “I came from such a background that I couldn’t even buy a pair of sports shoes. The first gift I received in my life was a pair of shoes from Chief Minister Narendra Modi!”
Impressing everyone with his performance in the Khel Mahakumbh, the Gujarat government gave him an award of Rs 25,000.
“That Rs 25,000 was a turning point. It helped me get my life back on track,” he shared.
His success earned him a place in a sports hostel, where he received professional training, medical support and guidance.
Sarita said with pride and gratitude, “My life changed because of Modiji’s affection for the girl child. It was his vision that took a tribal girl like me from the jungle to the world.”
Sarita represented India on the international stage by winning a gold medal in the Jakarta Asian Games.
Once again, Prime Minister Modi personally supported and celebrated his achievement, and the government also honored him with Rs 1 crore for his success. With the support of PM Modi, he was also appointed to a post in the Gujarat government.
“During the felicitation ceremony organized by PM Modi for Asian Games medal winners, he personally shared how he knew me from my early days in Gujarat,” Sarita recalled.
Sharing her inspirational story, Modi Story wrote, “Sarita Gaikwad’s story is not just her own; it represents the stories of countless girls from remote corners of India who have broken barriers through education, skill development, sports and entrepreneurship and have risen to success with the support of Narendra Modi’s visionary initiatives.”
“On this International Day of the Girl Child, let us celebrate and honor all such achievers – India’s daughters who dared to dream and soar to success,” the post said.
–IANS
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