Poverty may create hurdle in higher education for TN state topper Muslim students By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net, Madurai: There are lots of things in this world which money can’t buy, but unfortunately good education is a disgraceful exception to it. For economically poor students in today’s corporate education system determination, hard work and excellence are not the only criteriato achieve their dream; in every step towards their goal our system shows them the mirror and hard realities. A.Mohammed Navas work as dailywage labor in bicycle spring manufacturing workshop, observing this 17 year old for firsttime, working in hard labor many will be surprised to know that this teenager topped Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) scoring 194.5 out of 200, he has even bagged first rank in backward class Muslim category. Right from the slum of Madurai has risen as topper; Mohammed Navas comes from a very humble background, lives with his motherand elder sister in one room accommodation at Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board quarters in Avaniapuram, Madurai. He lost his father at the age of one and ever since witnessed the cruel realities of life, but never his mother compromised with his studies. Since Navas father has passed, hismother A. Thara Hussain Beevi work on sewing machine to help her family survive, Navas also work’s tough making bicycle springs to earn a meager Rs. 150 per day to support and supplement his mother’s income. He completed his 12th from Tamil medium government aided school, it has been a challenge forNavas to excel in his education in spite of all odds and the hard timehe had given at the workshop. But if things don’t go down well, this young, hardworking bright student have to end his studies, as for his family it’s difficult to manage their everyday life, they cannot even think of managing even part of the amount required to get admission in engineering college. Speaking with TwoCircles.net Navas said every day he feels that his dream of higher education is slipping from his hands. “Without any money in my bank A/C I am getting really discouraged to take part in counseling sessions whichwill start in few days,” Navas said. An optimistic Navas who doesn’t even have pennies in his pocket to get the enginnering seat he deserve, dreams of becoming an IAS officer, but behind the positivity Navas also lingers with apprehensions, fear’s that he might have to put a full stop on education if won’t get admission in engineering. Another brilliant but unfortunate Muslim student is S. Syed Ali Fathima who also topped the state by scoring 197 marks out of200, but daughter of a cattle feed seller in Othakadai town who can easily get a medical seat find it hard to chase her dream. Speaking with TCN Fathima said, “After lot of difficulties my poor family and relatives sponsored myeducation to this point, I can easily get a medical seat but we are not in a position to spend lakhs for my medical education.” “I studied hard even while facing humiliation in school for not paying required fees in time, but now by the grace of Allah I excelled in all the subjects now even my whole school is really glad with me,” said Fathima in thrilled tune. The story and plight of this two Muslim students was first got highlighted in The Hindu Madurai edition by Mohammed Imranullah,Navas and Fathima informed TCN that Madurai collector called them up and assured them scholarship support from the Government, but both of them showed reservations on collector’s assurance. According to Fathima it is doubtful that state Government will sponsor full fees, because lately state Government has started the mechanism of fee reimbursement which often doesn’t come with full fee structure of the college, and if anytechnicality arises the student future hangs in middle, with Govt.red tapes. And red tape is something which no one better than Navas can know, last year Navas first time in his life opened a bank A/C with Indian Bank hoping to get state Govt. promised Rs. 2,000 scholarship for backward Muslim students, one year has passed butstill it has Rs. 100 opening balance with Government scholarship yet to show up. Both of them informed that ever since their report was published in The Hindu their phone doesn’t stop ringing, many have pledge their help even many Muslim political leaders showed promisesof bright future, but as only two days are left for their counseling and certificate verification, this two bright Muslim students in anyword an asset for the community and whole nation stands in urgent need of help. Navas and Fathima despite the background they come from, even with the severe conditions which surrounded them topped the highly competitive exam of the state, which is enough to show their metal. Fathima said she is hopeful that Allah will make way for her as shepromised that one day if she becomes a doctor she will definitely help many other students like her who doesn’t have any one to cry for except Allah.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 17:59:34 +0000
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