Encouraged By Employers To Study, A Domestic Help Scores 74% In Class 10th UP Board Exams

She worked as a maid and washed dishes and cleaned houses along with her mother, and would snatch time from her busy schedule to study. And, when the UP board examination results came out on Friday, Manisha Kashyap was more than happy ¡ª for, she scored 74 per cent in Class X.

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Her parents barely earn Rs 5,000 a month, which is not sufficient to feed the family of six, forget about sending the children to schools. But Manisha was determined to study and worked as a maid to pay her school fees. "I get up every day at 5 am to prepare food for my family and then go to school," Manisha said proudly.

Manisha reluctantly enrolled herself for high school education in St John's Girls Inter College a year ago after one of her employers coaxed her to study and become independent. Her father, Somaliya Kashyap and mother, Munni Kashyap, were at first hesitant to send her to a school as they did not have the means to pay her fees. "My father didn't want me to study. But I enrolled myself for Class X board examination with the money I earned by working as a maid," Manisha said.

The 15-year-old took tuitions from another employer who taught her science subjects along with English and mathematics.

Manisha's father, who works as a construction worker, was happy to see his daughter score high. He said he was glad and want her to be very successful. "I never expected that I would get such a high score. Initially, I thought I would fail in one or two subjects as I could not study properly," Manisha said.

"I have been cleaning houses for two years to help my mother in supplementing the income of the household because our family income was too less to get any education. When I started studying I enjoyed it. Many times I stayed up late nights to study because I couldn't get time because of work and the next day was my test. Home Science and English are my favorite subjects," an elated Manisha said.

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Manisha took tuitions every day after school to cope with her classes since the teachers were unable to pay personal attention to a class of 94 students. "There were so many children in the class and the teacher couldn't pay attention to everyone. So, I used to sit in the front and take notes," she said.

"I got sick many a times during the exams because of stress. I wanted to do really well, but I couldn't find time to study. During the last few days of school just before the exams, I made it a point to go to school though none of my classmates came. I went because that was the only time I could get to study," Manisha added.

Her mother, Munni Kashyap, said, "I am very happy that has scored such a high percentage. I want her to do well in life and keep progressing."

Manisha said, "I will not stop studying, no matter what might come. I want to be a teacher and guide young girls," she said.