CUDDALORE: For 17-year-old Jayapriya, passing Class XII was not just a stepping stone to a brighter future. It was the fruit of a long-drawn battle against all odds, one that she fought against nature and returned with flying colours.
In November 2015, while all her batchmates were busy preparing for the boards, this Dailt girl’s future was bleak after the flash floods washed away her home and books.
Daughter of Jayasankar, a construction worker from Periyakattupalayam village, she had little help forthcoming. However, the girl was neither willing to give in to the tragedy nor give up trying. Though she was not able to attend classes, Jayapriya prepared for the examination from a temporary shelter, where her family was shifted following the floods, and managed to pass the boards with 515 marks in Science group.
Her future seemed back on track. She applied to Periyar Government Arts College in Cuddalore.
However, fate again played a cruel trick. Though she was called for counselling, Jayapriya failed to get admission due to low marks.
“I worked hard to secure the pass marks. I do not know who to approach and explain that I had lost all my books in the floods and struggled a lot without even a proper shelter. So I returned home in despair,” she said.
Luck again smiled upon her when she got admission in a private engineering college in Villupuram district after the management said that she need not pay any fees as she was eligible for scholarship.
“However, after a few months, the management began asking fees for college bus and sundry expenses.
My father is a construction worker and he could not afford this huge amount. So, I had to discontinue my studies,” Jayapriya said.
Despite the roadblocks, Jayapriya continues to hope for securing admission in Periyar government college, where she could get accommodation in the girls hostel run by Adi-Dravidar ‘Welfare Department. However, the girl does not know on whose doors to knock.