Poverty shatters tribal boy's dreams

M. Veera Babu secures 77th rank in IIT without any coaching

For seven years since he joined Jawahar Navodaya School, M. Veera Babu studied vigorously to realise his dream of securing admission in any of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology.

The 19-year-old tribal student's hard work finally paid dividends when he got a rank of 77 in scheduled tribe category and admission in IIT Kanpur. But poverty is standing between him and the IIT as the fatherless teenager is unable to bear the annual expenditure running into nearly Rs. 70,000 a year to complete his studies.

Babu hails from an interior village of Usirikayalapalli in Karepally mandal of Khammam district. His father Bhuli, a labourer, died in his childhood. Since then, his mother shouldered the responsibility of the family by working as labourer in the village. His three sisters - one elder to him- are pursuing studies.

Despite not undergoing any dedicated coaching for IIT joint entrance examination, Babu reached his cherished goal by relying on books available in the school. He did not appear for EAMCET as the intermediate syllabus was different from that of the CBSE to which the Jawahar Navodaya School was affiliated.

He is likely to get admission either in four-year metallurgical engineering or five-year integrated M.Sc. (Chemistry). Babu has to pay Rs. 30,000 fee for two semesters each year and Rs. 1,500 a month towards hostel expenses. Money for books and miscellaneous expenditure takes his average annual budget to Rs. 70,000.

For his mother working as daily-wage earner, that is huge sum and mobilising it looks next to impossible. All through his life, Babu wanted to be an IITian and hence preferred not to join National Institute of Technology, Warangal, though he got admission there this year.

“When the opportunity has come, inability to pay money is leaving my future in doldrums. I am appealing to kind hearted people for financial assistance and simultaneously trying to borrow money,” he said. Those interested in supporting him can call +91 96181-61977.

(Article from The Hindu daily 31st July 2010)