Gauthami*, resident of C K Halli village studied at the GHS Yellodu.school. She secured 91% marks in the class 10 examination and aspires to become a police officer. Gautami’s parents work as landless labourers. Her parents are proud of her but have no means to fund her higher education.
Ashwath Narayan* also a resident of Yellodu village studied at this school . He also completed his class 10 securing 88% Marks. Representing his school at the state/district level, Ashwath has also won several quiz contests. Ashwath’s father is a shepherd. Ashwath would like to study further but does not know to manage that.
One Good Step has helped identify individual donors who offered financial support to Gauthami And Ashwath to help them pursue their education. For many underprivileged children coming from difficult family circumstances, Gauthami and Ashwath symbolize hope.
An often unacknowledged reason for the growing disparity between the rich and the poor in India is the poor student’s lack of access to quality higher education.
While a lot has been written about the abysmal state of primary education in India, it must be acknowledged that the state has taken several measures to promote primary education across the country. Many young students from underprivileged backgrounds make best use of the state given facilities to complete their schooling.
But a bigger challenge awaits them. State support is available to enthusiastic students only till the age of 16. Often state sponsored scholarships are targeted at the upliftment of certain socially backward communities and are not available for other deserving candidates.
Gauthami and Ashwath, both come from homes where the annual family income is less than Rs.25000. Like many families in rural India, they live off nature .Their lives are simple and needs very basic. Higher education without state support thus is a luxury they cannot afford.
One Good Step is conscious that these children must not be uprooted from their homes and villages. Our effort is to help them find a donor who can fund their education at the best available college in their vicinity.
Above all we believe that Gauthami And Ashwath can inspire several other children coming from similar backgrounds to pursue their dreams. We encouraged them to visit their school as well as schools in neighboring areas to talk to students and encourage them to work hard and focus on their education.
Gauthami wants to complete her graduation in BCom and join the police.
Ashwath wants to do his Bsc in Agriculture become a agriculture technologist
One Good Step wishes them the very best and hopes to fuel the dreams of many such Gauthamis and Ashwaths.
* Name changed for privacy
– Authored by Meenakshi Ravi
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