M. Pavithra, daughter of a small farmer and student of Sishya Matriculation School, Tiruvannamalai, topped the district with 1,180 marks in the Plus Two examination.
Her father Murugan and mother Devaki of Inam Kariyanthal village near here are engaged in farming and she has an elder sister and a younger brother.
The family lives in a house in their agricultural field located away from the village.
The parents have five acres of land and cultivate flowers and banana.
After finishing Plus Two exams Ms. Pavithra is toiling in the agricultural field helping her parents in plucking flowers daily.
Speaking to The Hindu Mr. Murugan said “We couldn’t offer her the best facilities. She often fought illness during these two years. Despite that she worked hard and earned good marks. We never allowed her to help us in farming till she finished her Plus Two exams.”
Ms. Pavithra said that she dreamt about becoming an IAS officer but her immediate plan is to get a seat in medical college.
Her father is sad because she couldn’t straight away get a seat for medicine and she had to prepare for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test.
“We couldn’t access coaching centre from here and she’s not been in touch with studies ever since the conclusion of Plus Two exams. That’s why we are worried about the entrance exam,” Mr. Murugan added.
Second and third ranks
K. Praveenraj of Kingston Matriculation School, Vandavasi, S. Swathi of Dhivya Matriculation School, Chetpet and M. Akshaya of Sishya Matriculation School, Tiruvannamalai got 1,178 marks and shared the district second rank. Of them, M. Akshaya secured 198 marks in English and became one of the State toppers of the subject. S. Deepa of AIM Matriculation School, Aagaram, secured 1,176 marks and got third place in the district.
