11 students from a government school in Khunti district of Jharkhand have passed the NEET exam, but what next?
11 Tribal Girls from Jharkhand Clear NEET 2024 – But Who Will Pay for Medical College?
28 students from Class 12 of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Karra block, Khunti district, Jharkhand appeared for the NEET 2024 exam. Out of these, 11 girls passed. All of them come from Dalit, tribal, and backward communities.
While their success is inspiring, a major challenge now is how to afford medical college fees.
What is NEET?
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a national-level exam in India for students who want to study MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate medical courses. Only students who pass this exam are eligible for admission to medical and dental colleges.
Remote Jharkhand School Celebrates Big Success
The science stream was introduced in the school in 2023. Earlier, only arts subjects were taught. The district administration launched a program called ‘Sapnoon Ki Udaan’, later renamed ‘Sampurn Shiksha Kavach’, to support NEET preparation.
- Teachers for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology were appointed.
- Free Wi-Fi and online guidance were provided.
Inspiring Student Stories
🌟 Roshni Tigga – Aspiring Bone Specialist
Roshni belongs to the Uraon tribal community and lives in Guyu village, Khunti. Her father is a farmer, and her mother is a housewife. She wants to become a bone disease specialist because there is no government hospital in her village.
“We didn’t know about NEET before. No one in our village did,” – Roshni
🌟 Rupanjali Kumari – Dreams of Becoming a Doctor
Rupanjali’s father is also a farmer. She first learned about NEET in Class 10. Her school supported her, and she cleared the exam. But now, she may only get admission in a private medical college which has high fees.
“My parents are proud, but we can’t afford the fees. If the government helps, I can study,” – Rupanjali
Free Education Until Class 12
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas are free schools for girls from Class 6 to 12. According to the Jharkhand Education Project Council, there are 203 such schools in the state. The government covers all educational expenses.
However, there is no financial aid for college education. Many girls are from poor families and need support beyond school.
“500 girls study here. Many are orphans or have single parents. We need financial help for their future,” – Warden Rashmikumari
District Administration's Coaching Support
In 2023, the Khunti district administration started free NEET and IIT-JEE coaching in:
- 2 Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalayas
- 10 other government schools
Coaching is offered through both online and offline classes. Smart classrooms and ICT labs are being used to support learning.
Results so far:
- 26 students cleared IIT-JEE Mains
- 12 students (11 from Karra and 1 from another school) passed NEET 2024
But Who Will Pay for Medical College?
Despite success, families face a big hurdle – high medical college fees. Most are farmers or daily-wage earners.
“We don’t have thousands, how can we pay lakhs?” – Roshni's father, Temba Tigga
What the Authorities Say
Khunti District Education Officer, Aparupa Pal Chaudhary told the BBC:
“Our program covers coaching, not college fees. We’ve appealed to CSR groups and international organizations for help. But there is no fixed solution yet.”
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