O J’s Corner

Aswathy and her ilk would curse

Recently we heard about a girl, Awathy, hailing from Wayanad district, committing suicide as her bid to get admission to the plus one course had failed. She hailed from the tribal hamlet in Wayanad district. This time the plus one admission was through the single-window system. The government put down laws for admission. People should browse internet to know their position in the rank list for admission. Aswathy and her family members were living in the far-off forest hamlet. To come out of the forest domain, they should walk the difficult terrain for a day or more. They reached town on a few occasions and the procedure was not full. The school authorities could not do anything. It was impossible for her to know whether she would get admission. After a few attempts, the girl turned despondent and committed suicide.


We should mull over the situation. What is the directive principle enshrined in the Constitution? The state should strive to give suitable education for all. I would say if one has proved competence, he should be given the education he/she deserves, be it medicine, eingineering, computer technology or what not. Facilities lacking, there would be fierce competition. The have-nots are thrown away. The haves find admission in costly institutions. But let us not rest content that everything is hunky dory.

Even tribal hamlets, poramboke settlements and other tenements have bright students. I have seen brilliant students coming out magnificently well in life, challenging the struggles in slums in Dharavi, Bhandup and other chawls in Mumbai. IAS and IPS officers have been generated from these chawls.

No hurdle should be placed before brilliant students to come up in life. It is the duty of the society to help them.