Man seeks PMO help to marry off sister ; gets reply a year later

Barely managing to make ends meet, Manjit Sen, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar district, about 500 km from here, had requested the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to arrange dowry for his two sisters.

He had written a letter to the PMO a year ago seeking assistance and had also attached a list of things to be given as dowry in the marriage of the two girls. Manjit had lost all hope of getting help.

Things, however, changed on Saturday. Finally there was a response from the PMO.
Manjit received a letter from the PMO stating that his request was being considered. He said that the district authorities had visited him on Saturday to inquire about his financial condition.

“I was told that the PMO had sought detail about my financial condition...a decision on my request will be taken after the report is sent to PMO by the district administration,” Manjit said. Bulandshahar district magistrate Chandrakala said that a letter had been received from the PMO seeking a report on Manjit's financial condition. “We have deputed a team to make an assessment and a report will be sent to PMO shortly,” she said.

Manjit was a teacher at a private school and had three sisters. “I do not have the money to arrange dowry for the marriage of my sisters,” he said.

Sources said that Manjit owned a small piece of land and barely managed to make two ends meet.

Manjit’s father had to quit his job owing to ill health and his mother worked as a maid to help manage expenses of the family.

“I had lost all hope when there was no reply for a year...I now hope that my two sisters will be married,” Manjit said.