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Kavita Kumari finished the race in just six minutes (Image: X/@MeghUpdates)
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News18•07-10-2026, 14:00
Jharkhand Woman Runs 1,600m Barefoot In Saree For Home Guard Job
  • •Kavita Kumari, a widow from Jharkhand's Ramgarh district, completed a 1,600-metre physical efficiency test barefoot and wearing a saree.
  • •She finished the race in just six minutes, easily beating the 10-minute limit despite the scorching heat and lack of proper gear.
  • •Kavita works at a brick kiln to support her two young children and elderly in-laws, practicing daily at 4 am without shoes or a tracksuit.
  • •The Home Guard recruitment drive in Ramgarh features 284 posts, with half reserved for women and an extra 5 percent for widows and divorced women.
  • •A viral video of her inspiring run drew widespread praise online, with many users lauding her grit while others highlighted the lack of basic resources.

Key Questions Answered

Kavita Kumari completed the 1,600-metre physical efficiency test barefoot and wearing a saree because she could not afford running shoes, a tracksuit, or other equipment. Despite these limited resources, she finished the race in just six minutes.

The Home Guard recruitment drive in Ramgarh is being conducted for 284 posts, with physical efficiency and written tests scheduled from October 24 to November 5. Half of the posts are reserved for women, and an additional 5% reservation is provided for widows and divorced women.

Kavita Kumari is a widow from Soso village in Ramgarh district who supports her two young children and elderly in-laws by working at a brick kiln. She sought the Home Guard job to provide a more stable future for her family, waking up daily at 4 am to practice running in her saree.