Meet The Trailblazers: First Batch Of 80 Students Gets Admission Through DU's 'Orphan Quota'

From a Bihar kid whose life was turned upside down when his father died to a girl from Uttarakhand whose family fell apart after her mother died, many of those admitted under Delhi University's newly created 'orphan quota' are teenagers whose lives were turned upside down by tragedy.

The university's opportunity today provides optimism for a brighter, more stable future.

Who is this quota helping?

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The quota has made Delhi University more accessible to students who have lost both parents. This year, around 80 students were admitted under the supernumerary quota, which allocates two places for orphans in each undergraduate and postgraduate program. Their tuition is also being waived.

As per an Indian Express report, these students shared their stories as the pioneering batch of this newly aided quota.

1. Shresth Kumar from Bihar

Before his father's passing, Shreshth Kumar had ambitions to expand the family's plywood business in Nalanda, Bihar. At the young age of 10, he lost his mother to cancer, and three years later, his father succumbed to kidney failure, leaving him and his younger sister in the care of extended family members. The losses disrupted his life, leaving him feeling adrift without a sense of belonging.

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While applying for university in June, Shreshth stumbled upon the 'orphan quota' option, offering a chance to pursue studies at Delhi University without relying on relatives for fees. With a CUET score of 570 and 78 per cent in class XII Bihar Board exams, he secured admission to Kirori Mal College for B.Com at DU's North Campus.

2. Sahil from Delhi

At the serene Vivekananda statue within DU's Arts Faculty, 18-year-old Sahil reflected on the campus surrounding him, expressing gratitude for the opportunity that had come with a heavy price tag.

The orphan quota paved his way into Hindu College following the loss of both his parents within the past three years. His father, a nursing orderly in a government hospital, passed away due to heart failure during the pandemic's peak three years ago.

Hindustan Times

"The pandemic was an incredibly tough phase for our family. Just as we were reeling from my father's loss, we were struck by another devastating blow," Sahil recounted. His mother suffered a fatal brain aneurysm and passed away last year.

Following his mother's demise, Sahil, a native of Delhi's Najafgarh, took a hiatus for a year before sitting for the CUET examination in 2023. His completion of class 12 in 2022 boasted an achievement of 80 per cent marks.

Looking ahead, Sahil aims to enrol in coaching classes next year to prepare for the UPSC examinations.

3. Karishma Bisht from Uttarakhand

At the age of 18, Karishma Bisht, who lost her mother when she was only eight months old, hails from Uttarakhand's Almora district. Raised by her aunt's family in Haldwani, she recalls little about her mother or the circumstances of her passing.

The loss of her mother led to a separation within her family, creating a rift between her father and elder brother, and distancing her from them emotionally.

Discovering her father's passing in January 2021 due to a brain tumour, Karishma, who had limited connection with him and her brother due to their separation, remained resolute in pursuing her aspirations.

Securing admission to Hindu College for a B.Sc in Statistics this year, she showcased her academic prowess with 90 per cent in class 10 and 86.5 per cent in class 12.

Karishma seized an opportunity she learned about through the news, recognising it as the ideal path to further her education, driven by a passion for mathematics and programming.

Her aspirations are aimed high, envisioning a career as a data scientist and planning to prepare for admission to the Indian Statistical Institute post her undergraduate studies.

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