Inspiration
No school in village: Jharkhand Dalit girl cycles 24 kms everyday to school
Neelu Kumari cycled 24 km everyday in order to attend school. She was forced to do so as her village had no electricity and no school. Her family supported her as she enrolled and travelled to school and now has secured first division in the matriculation exam.
From the dusty heartland of India comes another heart warming story of a girl, her persistence and passion for education. Meet Neelu Kumari from a village in the Latehar district, Jharkhand who cycled 24 kilometres every day just so that she could attend school. And today, not only Neelu but the entire village stands proud as she has secured first division in the matriculation examination.
Her story has much more than meets the eye. Neelu is from the Dalit community and her Karmatand village is a victim of Maoist insurgency. The village has no high school and no electricity either. Not an ideal situation by any length of imagination for a youngster to pursue her studies.
But Neelu would have none of it as she dug deep and put her life in her efforts. Thankfully, her endeavour was unwaveringly supported by her mother Bhagia Devi and brother Fhalgun Ganjhu who ensured that she was enrolled in the high school 12 kilometres away at Fulsu village.
Simply enrolling in the school was not enough, travelling was a problem. Fortunately, the government had distributed cycles to students like her. However, cycling to school and back home was not easy. Besides the gruelling 24 km distance which can take a toll even on adults, the girl had to navigate through forests and hilly terrain, braving the elements as seasons changed. But Neelu was made of sterner stuff and she never gave up.
Her daily schedule demanded her to start 2 hours before the classes began so as to reach the school on time. After attending classes she would stay back and complete her homework before sunset and then head back home — cycling once again.
Neelu has scored 241 out of a total 500 marks in the matriculation examination. Her success has egged 17 other girls in the village who are also aiming to clear the matriculation examination.
What Neelu has set off in motion is no small thing in a region replete with girls dropping out of schools due to long distances, lack of transport and basic facilities like a toilet. But thankfully things are changing now as after Neelu’s success, the government sprung into action and upgraded the Project Primary School where Neelu studied till Class V into a High School.
In the vastness called India, Karmatand village is just a mere speck on the map. But today, everyone in Jharkhand knows about this place, because of Neelu and her extraordinary achievement. And hopefully she will not be the only one remembered for the feat. There will be many more like her who will overcome all the odds to shine bright.