Berhampur: A Berhampur-based coaching institute has stepped forward to arrange funds for the daughter of an Asha worker in Ganjam district, who has made it to the first round of medical counselling at the govt-run Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Balangir, due to her financial constraints.Lgna Pradhan, daughter of Sidhipur in Polasara block, has secured all-India rank (AIR) of 60,281 along with a category rank 29,819 in the NEET (UG).Pradhan (19), who lost her father about eight years ago, has qualified in the country’s premier medical entrance exam in the second chance. “Not only for MBBS admission, we would try to arrange the entire expenditure of medical studies owing to her financial constraints,” said Sudhir Rout, director Aryabhatta Foundation, here. Earlier the institute imparted free coaching to her for two years for preparation of NEET (UG).“Sir (Rout) has assured me to arrange my admission fees,” said Pradhan. Over Rs 37,000 is required as her admission fees, besides hostel charges.Pradhan’s childhood dream to become a doctor is nearing reality after she was selected for admission in BB Medical College, Balangir. But her journey to qualify for the NEET was not easy. Her four-member family began depending upon earnings of her mother after her father’s death, when she was studying in Class V. Her mother, Anita Pradhan, was working as a farm labourer in the village, before shifting to Berhampur after her Class X.Though I have wanted to become a doctor in future, I had no idea how to achieve it till I had passed Class X in the village school, she said. One of her relatives, however, guided her and assisted to take admission in a private coaching institution here to take free coaching. “While I had joined Plus II in the Khallikote Junior College here, I was also taking coaching for the NEET exam,” she said.Her mother and other family members had shifted to Berhampur due to financial problems. Her mother was working as a cook in a private hostel to eke out a living. However, she shifted to the village last year and began working as an Asha worker.