Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

Dalit girl’s dream of becoming a doctor under threat

TIRUNELVELI: A Dalit girl’s dream of becoming a doctor is under threat since her family working in a fireworks manufacturing unit near Sattur is unable to pay the fee though she has secured a seat in the Tuticorin Medical College on merit.

When M. Jeeva, a school teacher came to know that J. Selvi of Achchankulam near Panaiyadipatti in Sivakasi taluk has scored 1,078 marks in Plus Two in March 2008, she asked her to apply for MBBS since her cut off mark for medicine is 189.

Fearing ‘financial burden on her parents due to her higher studies’, she refused immediately and prepared to join one of the fireworks manufacturing unit close to her village to augment the family’s income.

However, Ms. Jeeva discussed her case with her husband Michael Raj, Station Master of Sattur Railway Station, who asked his son to buy an application for Ms. Selvi, a student of S.H.N. Ethel Harvey Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Sattur. With the help of D. Aram, State president of Doctors’ Association for Social Equality (DASE) and doctor in Sattur Government Hospital, he convinced the poor girl and persuaded her to apply for MBBS.

“When she went to Chennai for counselling, a group of budding doctors from Madras Medical College helped Ms. Selvi, who got a seat in Tuticorin Medical College on merit,” said Dr. Aram.

Ms. Selvi’s father R. Jayaraj, who has to feed the family of five members with his monthly salary of Rs.1,300, initially was not in a mood to admit her in I MBBS. However, the girl’s sustained persuasion forced him to get a loan from a moneylender and admit her in the I year of MBBS.

“Now he is worried about the impending expenditure on books, hostel fee, clothe etc. and seeking assistance from philanthropists,” Dr. Aram said.

Those who want to help Ms. Selvi may contact Dr. Aram at 94432 44633.

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