<p>Kottur: Netravathi M B, Anita P, Chaitra B, Swathi S and Kusuma Ujjani. A common thread runs through all five: they are all PU II toppers in the arts stream and they are all alumni of the Indu PU College in Kottur.</p>.<p>There is another unusual thing that binds the girls: all five are working as village accountants (VAs) despite being toppers. </p>.<p>The reason? Strained financial circumstances. The girls, who topped the PU II arts stream between 2015 and 2019, respectively, couldn't pursue higher studies as their parents are either small farmers or informal sector workers.</p>.<p>As there were vacancies for the village accountant post, they ended up getting the job based on their high marks. Currently, they are serving in various parts of the state. </p>.Kottur's Indu PU College has been bagging first rank in arts for 10 years.<p>This hasn't stopped them from dreaming big, though. They have completed their graduation through distance education while on the job, thus improving their career prospects. They could be promoted as tahsildar or assistant commissioner in the future.</p>.<p>In 2024, the government introduced a recruitment test to fill the vacant posts of village accountants, ending the trend of students with high marks opting to become VAs. And there were no appointments of VAs between 2020 and 2023.</p>.<p>Anita P, the topper in 2016 and daughter of a banana vendor in Kottur, told DH, "I am working as a village accountant in Vijayanagar district. I am leading a dignified life and I am able to take care of my family."</p>.<p>She enrolled for a degree under distance education after completing PU as she knew that she would be appointed as village accountant based on her marks. "I was appointed in 2018 and I completed my degree also. I may serve as tahsildar or assistant commissioner before my retirement," she said.</p>.<p>The college not only helped her to do well in academics but also taught how to deal with tough situations in personal and professional life, she said. </p>.<p>Indu PU College Management Secretary H N Veerabhadrappa said soon after the introduction of the recruitment test, they started coaching classes for second PU students so that they can pass "any recruitment exam". "We encouraged them to carry on their studies after the appointment via distance education," he added.</p>.Karnataka: Student dies by suicide after getting 'less marks' in PU exam.<p>Meanwhile, the latest alumni to top PU II arts stream from the college, L R Sanjana Bai, has civil services in her sights. "My goal is to become an IAS officer," she said, who is the daughter of a lorry driver. </p>.<p>Sanjana is set to pursue graduation in a reputed college in Bengaluru. "I am not keen to become a village accountant as it would shorten my academic journey," said Sanjana.</p>
<p>Kottur: Netravathi M B, Anita P, Chaitra B, Swathi S and Kusuma Ujjani. A common thread runs through all five: they are all PU II toppers in the arts stream and they are all alumni of the Indu PU College in Kottur.</p>.<p>There is another unusual thing that binds the girls: all five are working as village accountants (VAs) despite being toppers. </p>.<p>The reason? Strained financial circumstances. The girls, who topped the PU II arts stream between 2015 and 2019, respectively, couldn't pursue higher studies as their parents are either small farmers or informal sector workers.</p>.<p>As there were vacancies for the village accountant post, they ended up getting the job based on their high marks. Currently, they are serving in various parts of the state. </p>.Kottur's Indu PU College has been bagging first rank in arts for 10 years.<p>This hasn't stopped them from dreaming big, though. They have completed their graduation through distance education while on the job, thus improving their career prospects. They could be promoted as tahsildar or assistant commissioner in the future.</p>.<p>In 2024, the government introduced a recruitment test to fill the vacant posts of village accountants, ending the trend of students with high marks opting to become VAs. And there were no appointments of VAs between 2020 and 2023.</p>.<p>Anita P, the topper in 2016 and daughter of a banana vendor in Kottur, told DH, "I am working as a village accountant in Vijayanagar district. I am leading a dignified life and I am able to take care of my family."</p>.<p>She enrolled for a degree under distance education after completing PU as she knew that she would be appointed as village accountant based on her marks. "I was appointed in 2018 and I completed my degree also. I may serve as tahsildar or assistant commissioner before my retirement," she said.</p>.<p>The college not only helped her to do well in academics but also taught how to deal with tough situations in personal and professional life, she said. </p>.<p>Indu PU College Management Secretary H N Veerabhadrappa said soon after the introduction of the recruitment test, they started coaching classes for second PU students so that they can pass "any recruitment exam". "We encouraged them to carry on their studies after the appointment via distance education," he added.</p>.Karnataka: Student dies by suicide after getting 'less marks' in PU exam.<p>Meanwhile, the latest alumni to top PU II arts stream from the college, L R Sanjana Bai, has civil services in her sights. "My goal is to become an IAS officer," she said, who is the daughter of a lorry driver. </p>.<p>Sanjana is set to pursue graduation in a reputed college in Bengaluru. "I am not keen to become a village accountant as it would shorten my academic journey," said Sanjana.</p>