Minister Bhattarai celebrates his birthday with Khatun

Kathmandu, Sept. 6

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai Sunday celebrated his birthday by providing economic support to Muskan Khatun who was attacked with acid last year.

He has given Rs. 50,000 to Khatun who was attacked with acid by two youth in Birgunj in September 2019.

 She is still undergoing treatment to recover from the burns caused by the acid.

Minister Bhattarai gave the money to support in her studies. A ninth grader, Khatun wants to be a doctor in future.

Handing over the money to Khatun at the ministry on Sunday, he said, "I am highly impressed by the self-confidence of Muskan." He also wished her the best in her studies and urged her to deposit the money in her bank account and spend while studying MBBS.

Minister Bhattarai also pledged his support to Khatun in future as well. Earlier, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had assured her that the responsibilities of her higher education would be taken by the government.

For the last five years, Minister Bhattarai has been supporting the needy people on his birthday. "Organising lavish programmes and feasts on your birthday is useless," he said.

He had started this trend with a support to Biraj Adhikari, a child from Manamaiju of Kathmandu who lost his father in 2015 earthquake. Last year, he had supported visually impaired child Samir Rai of Taplejung district to help in his studies.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 September 2020.