Maya sends Rs 500 to widow who gave Rahul shelter

AMETHI: A day after British foreign secretary David Miliband and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi spent a night in the houses of two Dalit women at Semra village, the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh swung into action sending one of its officers with Rs 500 to help one of the two.

Rahul Gandhi had spent the night at Sheo Kumari���s place.

On directives of the government, Block Development Officer (BDO) Mahendra Kumar Choubey reached the village and gave Rs 500 to the Dalit widow Sheo Kumari (30).

"I am here on the directions of the government to know about the woman and provide her necessary help and benefits of government schemes", Chowbey said.

The officer also completed formalities to give work (of maid) to the woman under NREGS and assured her widow pension to which she is entitled.

Asked about her family, Sheo Kumari said her husband was a tractor driver who died and she was left with the responsibility of looking after her five children.

The woman worked in a self-help group under Rajiv Gandhi Women development scheme.