Koderma: Ruby Kumari, Priyanka Kumari and Shivani
Kumari became the first girl students from the Dalit community of
Tilathiya village under Ambabad panchayat of Satganwa block of the district to
not only pass the Jharkhand Academic Council's matriculation examination but
also cleared it in the first division. The council announced the results
earlier this month.
Tilathiya, about 45km away from the district headquarters, is a village with
around 45 households where most of the residents work as labourers and girls do
not have much scope for education. Child marriage used to be common practice in
the village, said Md Shakil, headmaster of the upgraded high school in
Dounaiya, where the three girls studied since their Class IX. District
administration officials lauded the trio and assured them help in pursuing
their studies.
Ruby said it was very tough to continue with her
studies after she passed Class VIII as her father, a daily wager, wanted her to
get married. "But I convinced my parents with the help of an NGO, Rashtriya
Jharkhand Sewa Sansthan, to make me pursue my studies. The NGO later admitted
me in the high school," she said.
She further said that she used to cycle for around 14km almost every day to get coaching classes at Pihro in Giridih district. Ruby's father, Bighan Ravidas, said, "Seeing her determination, we allowed her to continue her studies. Today, when I look back, it was worth it as she has made us proud in the village."
The
district education department has decided to offer the girls admission to any
government-run Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) of their choice. Talking
to TOI on Sunday, the district education officer, Shivnarayan Saha, said, "The
girls should continue with their studies and hence, we have decided to give
admission to these girls to any KGBV of their choice."
Koderma deputy commissioner Ramesh Gholap said
the trio has paved the way for other girls in their hamlet to dream big. He
further said, "By clearing the examination in the first division, they have set
an example for other students."
He added, "The administration will provide all support to the three girls who performed well despite facing adverse circumstances."
Source: India Daily Mail
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