1857 war hero Tatya Tope's family to be rehabilitated

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) As the country celebrates 150 years of the first war of independence in 1857, the central government has decided to provide assistance to the heirs of the war's frontline leader, Tatya Tope, who are unemployed and cannot afford to complete their education.Taking action on a plea submitted by an NGO 'Bismillah: the Beginning Foundation', the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal announced a financial aid of Rs. 1 lakh for the Tope family.Jaiswal also said that he would personally visit Vinayak Rao Tope, belonging to the third generation of Tatya Tope, at his hometown in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. He would also urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release an amount from the PM's relief fund for the family apart from providing government jobs to the members."I hail the efforts of the foundation. My first priority is to make the family financially viable, get their children admitted for higher education and provide them employment," said Jaiswal.Vinayak Rao Tope's family has been earning a livelihood from a small kirana shop opened near their house. The shop sustains them but does not provide enough for his three children to complete their education. It is not enough for their marriage either.One of his daughters recently got a job as a teacher in a local school which earns her a paltry sum of Rs. 600 per month while the other two children are still unemployed.Touched by their difficulties, Neena and Shivnath Jha, who run the NGO have decided to provide monthly financial support to the Tope family through the proceeds from the books - 'Monograph on Ustad Bismillah Khan', 'India Calling' and 'Monograph on Lalu Prasad: India's Miracle' which were brought out by the foundation.The couple initiated a nation wide movement, 'Andolan Ek Pustak Se', two years back in order to protect those who brought laurels to the nation. The foundation earlier worked for providing financial support to music maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. Under their aegis, the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed the couple to invite the Ustad to perform at the India Gate to pay tribute to thousands of unsung heroes of World War one and for global peace.This was followed by a release of Rs. 250,000 from the Prime Minister's relief fund. However, the Ustad didn't live long to perform at India Gate and fulfill his last wish. (Indo-Asian News Service)