She hails from an extremely poor Dalit family, lacking even a proper shelter. Her parents’ lack of literacy or occupation — they are construction labours — did not stop M. Narsana from excelling in studies in school, and at the intermediate level which she completed in the Telangana Government social welfare hostels.

Ms Narsana has now secured admission into the prestigious Azim Premji University in Bengaluru — B.Sc (physics) — from among the 30 free seats available nationwide for merit students with a total fee waiver.

“The competitive spirit imbibed in my school and college helped me. I want to pursue higher education and take up teaching,” says the teenager in fluent English.

Admission is through a written test and an interview. Hence the magnitude of her achievement, particularly in view of her background, is extraordinary. She lost her father nine years ago in a construction mishap in Mumbai, following which her mother struggled to bring her up and her two school-going brothers.

Resident of Dharmajipeta village, Kadem mandal in Adilabad district, she studied from Class 5 to Intermediate at the TSWRS at Kadem, secured 8.8 grade in the SSC exam and 957/1000 marks in Inter (MPC) last year, standing first among social welfare students in the district. “There was a buzz about the social welfare residential schools in our village so we all wanted to study,” says Narsana, currently undergoing orientation classes in the varsity.

But, she almost did not join. Such was her plight that she did not have the money to buy clothes or even transport when she was called for felicitation by the alumni of the social welfare residential schools — Swaroes.

Stipend of Rs. 3,000

The alumni then not only paid for her travel but also arranged funds for her stay in the university. Incidentally, she is also the recipient of varsity’s Santoor scholarship for girls from challenging backgrounds, which earns her a stipend of Rs.3,000 a month.

“She is going to be our role model for other children in our institutions as she has secured admission into Azim Premji University. Through ‘Swaroes,’ we have formed a common education fund to support students like Narsana,” says TSWREI Secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar, an IPS officer, credited with transforming the hostels.