Tamil Nadu Tribal Girl For Whom Kerala Ran A Special Bus Scores 95% In Class X

A 16-year-old girl from a tribal settlement in Annamalai Tiger Reserve is ecstatic after becoming the first in her community to score 95% in class X board exams.

C Sreedevi from Poochukottamparai tribal settlement in Udumalpet range of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Tirupur district beat all odds and aced class X board exams from a residential school in Kerala¡¯s Chalakudy, and will now pursue higher secondary education.

Her achievement is a great way to encourage others as most tribal children drop out of school at a young age. Sreedevi, a student of Nayaranagadi model residential school in Chalakudy, said, ¡°I can hardly believe I have scored A plus grades ¨C more than 95% - in my Class X examination.¡±

Also read: Hard Work Pays Off: Girl Who Cycled 24 Km Every Day To School & Back, Scores 98.5% In Class 10

Kerala Resists

Sreedevi belongs to a tribal settlement where there is still no power supply or mobile network coverage. Most students from the settlement do not continue their studies after elementary or middle school.

The girls are married off within the community while the boys have to start working as soon as possible. Students like Sreedevi have to make a journey for a few kilometres every day to get to a place where phone networks work. A month ago, the Kerala government arranged a vehicle to transport Sreedevi to school.

Also read: UP Girl Who Took Class X Exams With Oxygen Cylinder Scores 69% & Proves Hard Work Always Pays

Montfort Valley (Representational image)

Sreedevi had returned to her settlement after the coronavirus-induced lockdown was imposed. She told TOI she travelled on foot and on her father's bike for several kilometres.

Also read: Nerves Of Steel: 15-YO Girl Carries Injured Father On Bicycle For 1,200 Km From Delhi To Bihar

TOI (Representational image)

¡°I am really proud that my daughter has scored good marks at examinations. Let people say whatever they want, I will ensure she continues her studies further. We don¡¯t want to hide our children within our settlement and restrict them from scaling professional heights,¡± said M Chellamuthu, Sreedevi¡¯s father, a farmer.

¡°Amid stiff opposition, Chellamuthu took a brave decision to educate his daughter.. and the girl used the opportunity wisely. Taking her as an inspiration, we hope many villagers would come forward to educate their children,¡± said P Shanmugam, state vice-president of Tamil Nadu tribal association.