Woman who went viral for barefoot run in sari clears home guard test

Ramgarh: For Kavita Kumari, the race was never just about the finish line. The 32-year-old widow and mother of two crossed it on Sunday in eight minutes, clearing the physical efficiency test for home guard recruitment at Sidhu Kanhu Ground in Ramgarh town.Kavita, from Soso village in Dulmi block, had first drawn attention when a video of her running barefoot in a sari during a practice session went viral. She is now one step closer to the govt job she hopes will secure a more stable future for her children.The qualifying time for women in the 1,600-metre run is 10 minutes. Kavita finished comfortably within the limit. As a widow, she is also eligible for an additional 5% reservation under the women’s category. “I want to serve and become self-reliant for my family and children,” she said after completing the run.Kavita’s journey had already become a talking point in Ramgarh. She has been preparing by running several kilometres every morning. Her circumstances have left little room for formal training or expensive equipment, but not for determination. Her viral run brought her struggle into public view and turned her into a symbol of the aspirations of rural women seeking secure employment.The women’s test for Dulmi block was held on Sunday, a day after the physical test for male candidates. Of the 930 aspirants who applied from the block, more than 900 women turned up at the stadium. The recruitment drive, which began on Oct 24, will continue till Nov 5.The selection process includes the physical efficiency test, a Hindi writing ability test and a technical proficiency test. Tests for men and women candidates are being conducted separately.Officials said the large turnout reflected growing interest among rural women in public service jobs. Candidates arrived early and went through registration, verification and running queues under administrative supervision.“To ensure accurate timing, RFID chips were fixed to the legs of aspirants,” said home guard commandant Nilima Surin.“Another woman came in a sari to take part. Ramgarh deputy commissioner Rituraj provided her a track suit,” Surin added.Stay updated with the latest Ranchi news. Download the TOI App.