Orissa's child marathon runner Budhia Singh, who created a record of sorts by running 65 km non-stop from Puri to Bhubaneswar, was on Friday adopted by Orissa government after his mother formally signed the papers.
"Budhia will now be looked after by the Sports Department, which is committed to helping the wonder kid's marathon skills grow," Director of Sports Narayan Prasad Das said on Friday.
Budhia, accompanied by his mother Sukanti Singh, was driven to the state run hostel at Kalinga stadium for sports personalities to begin a new life. The boy was given a ceremonial welcome by the inmates of the hostel.
"I am extremely happy to get a new home and new friends," a cheerful Budhia Singh told media persons.
Budhia was living with his mother and sisters for nearly 45 days in the city's biggest slum after he separated from his trainer Biranchi Das.
He had met Sports and Youth Affairs minister Debasis Nayak on September 4 seeking rehabilitation, besides Women and Child Development minister Pramilla Mallick.
Budhia's mother had said that she was facing difficulty in maintaining four children, including Budhia who also dropped out of school.
Sukanti, who earned Rs 2000 per month by working as a peon in an engineering college, said she was unable to provide proper food to Budhia, something which was required as a marathon runner.
Even Basti Suraksha Manch, the slum body that had given shelter to Budhia and his family, had also expressed inability to meet the child's expenses for food.
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