Sulabh to finance youngest graduate's studies

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Sulabh International has announced a Rs.5 lakh cash prize for Sushma Verma, the youngest graduate in the country.

The public relations officer of Sulabh told IANS the NGO would hereafter finance her further studies.

Founder of the Sulabh sanitation movement, Bindeshwar Pathak said he would be visiting Lucknow next week to personally hand over the cheque to Sushma Verma.

"Apart from this sum, which would take care of her daily needs, I am committed to pay the fees and other expenses of her courses in future also," he added.

While complementing the girl on her outstanding achievement, Pathak said she would be a great motivating factor for others.

Lucknow's child prodigy cleared her high school at the age of seven, a feat that earned her a pride of place in the Limca Book of Records.

At 10, she took the combined pre-medical test.

She would be pursuing her Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Microbiology from the Lucknow University when just 13.

Sushma, daughter of a daily wage labourer, dreams of becoming a doctor.

Many years back, Sulabh adopted a student from Bihar, Tathagat Avatar Tulsi, who cleared his class 10 examination at the age of nine and provided him financial support till his higher studies up to PhD.