BHOPAL: Over 300 students from financially weak families from the tribal-dominated regions of Madhya Pradesh have cleared competitive like JEE, AIIMS, AIPMT and NEET among others, thanks to initiatives taken by the state government.
"It is unbelievable but true that by pursuing studies in government schools, crossing barriers of financial crunch, 323 students of tribal dominated districts of the state have cleared JEE, AIIMS, AIPMT and NEET examinations," a Public Relation Department Official said today.
Notably, 155 students of Mandla, Jhabua, Dhar and Chhindwara districts have achieved distinction to clear these examinations, while three belong to primitive Baiga tribe.
"Three students, belonging to Baiga tribe, have successfully cracked the NEET examination. These three students belong to the labour-class family," he said. Success of these students has proved that "light of education" is spreading in the backward, tribal and interior parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Many unique experiments were encouraged in tribal districts. Projects like Navratna and Gyanarjan in Mandla district, Akansha project in Dindori, Prayas in Anuppur and project step in Jhabua were run to promote education among such pupils, the official said.
Under the Gyanarjan project, 85 students of Mandla district were selected in the JEE and NEET examination in the last two years. One of the student was selected for IIT Kharagpur last year.
The students of Baiga tribe who cleared NEET exam are Rameshwar of Singarpur village, Yogendra Kumar Dhurve and Rashmi Dhurve of village Ghughri.
The official said that 250 girls and boys have succeeded to clear JEE examination whereas 73 students have achieved distinction to clear NEET examination in the year 2016-17.
As many as 21 students belonging to Schedule Tribe community were selected for the IITs.
Out of 73 students selected for NEET, 53 students belong to Schedule Tribe community. In 2015-16, 153 girls/boys students of the reserved category had cleared these examinations.
Success of these students has proved that "light of education is spreading" in the backward, tribal and interior parts of Madhya Pradesh, he added.