The plight of two second-year pre-university achievers, who did exceedingly well in their examinations despite abject poverty, has caught the attention of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
As soon as Yeddyurappa read about Shilpakala of Tumkur, who secured the third rank in the Arts stream, but is not in a position to pursue higher studies because of poverty (reported by Deccan Herald in these columns on Thursday), he called up the Deputy Commissioner of the district to tell the girl to study as much as she wants and that her educational expenses would be taken care of.
Similarly, Veeresh Ramesh Hadla, a cowherd from Haveri district, passed in first class, but his parents had no means to send him for higher studies.
Yeddyurappa said he had directed the district officials to tell Nagendra that his educational expenses would be met by the government. Shilpakala wanted to pursue IAS, but her parents who make a living as labourers, wanted to marry her off as they could not afford to educate her further.
“I told them to allow her to pursue her studies and marriage can happen later. We will bear her expenses. Poverty should not be a hurdle for meritorious students to pursue higher studies and secure a bright future,” Yeddyurappa said at a function in Bangalore.
“I personally talked to the parents of both the students and assured them assistance,” he said.
He said banks should not hesitate in providing educational loans to merit students from poor families and added that government was willing to pay interest on the loans availed by them.
The chief minister announced that the State government would also organise a felicitation function at the Banquet Hall in the Vidhana Soudha for 23 candidates from the State who topped the civil service examinations this year.
DC’s gesture
In Tumkur, at the invitation of Deputy Commissioner C Somashekar, Shilpakala met him, who conveyed to her Chief Minister’s assistance. He also gave her Rs 10,000 as a personal gift.
CM lauds DH
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa on Thursday wrote to Deccan Herald complimenting it for highlighting through its reports the achievements of rural students in pre-university examinations.
In a letter to DH Editor K N Tilak Kumar, Yeddyurappa said he was moved by the two articles “Poverty may topple topper’s degree dreams” and “Talent born in a mud hut” (Deccan Herald dated May 12).
“As a common reader, I immediately reacted to it. I personally called them over the phone and congratulated them. I also assured them that the government will take care of expenditure of their future studies,” he said.
