Raj Thackeray gives financial aid to tribal athlete

Nashik: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who is on two-day visit to Nashik, today announced financial assistance of Rs 1.51 lakh to a gold medal winning tribal woman athlete to construct her house. 17-year-old Anjana Dhavalu Thamke, who hails from a tribal family in Ganeshgaon village, 12 km from here, had won a gold medal in the recently held 800-metre Asian athletics championship by creating a new national record.

Despite several assurances by ruling parties in the state, no flat was alloted to her so far anywhere in Nashik and the athlete along with her relatives and family members was constructing a house on her own at her native village in Ganeshgaon of Trimbakeshwar taluka of the district, Anjana had said.

A team led by MNS MLA from the district, Vasant Gite visited Ganeshgaon this morning and gave a report about it to party chief Raj Thackeray, who later announced financial aid of Rs 1.51 lakh to Anjana for house construction, Gite told reporters here.

Anjana was earlier felicitated by government officials and a social organisation in Nashik for her success, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had presented her with a Nano car.