HS students tell stories of grit and determination

KOLKATA: Despite frequent physical abuse by an alcoholic father and abject poverty Manish Mahato did not give up studies. The resident of Lohapatty, a slum in Kolkata, scored 81% marks in the Higher Secondary examination. The boy wants to study further and makes life better for his mother in future.
For Raj Gupta getting a square meal daily is a challenge with the meagre income his mother earns as a domestic help.Given the environment he lives the boy would got treaded the wrong path like many teenagers around him, But Raj showed his grit by securing 76.4% marks in his class XII board examination.
Life is a struggle for Pushpa Das (name changed) in a red light area where her mother works as sex worker to support the family. Circumstances would have forced her to drop out of school and she could have sucked into the flesh trade, But the girl did not let any of these odds come in the way of her studies. Pushpa scored 75.8% in the arts stream and rearing to go ahead.
A Rickshaw puller’s son, a labourer’s daughter are among the students who have passed out with promising marks in the higher secondary examination the result of which was out on Monday. The story of their grit and determination is sure to inspire many who face economic and social challenges day in and day out.
Prodded and helped by Child in Need Institute (CINI) these boys and girls are rearing to go. The organization played guardian to them by helping them in their studies and by encouraging them never to give up. Acting as a guiding force CINI has helped at least 10 students score good marks in their higher secondary examination. All of them wants to study further and get into jobs and salvage their respective families from poverty someday.