NAGAPATTINAM: When crops being grown on three acres became useless due to non-arrival of Cauvery water as well as a failed monsoon, farmer V Murugaiyan chose to commit suicide. He had borrowed Rs 2 lakh. He left behind a wife, daughter and son.
Daughter M Nithya, who studied till Class XII, successfully cleared her board examinations with 801 marks in the maths group and was keen to attend college. However, her mother who also has to care for an autistic younger brother is not in a position to put together the funds for her admission to pursue higher studies.
According to Nithya’s mother, M Rani (40), after the untimely death of her husband she has been finding it difficult to make ends meet even on a daily basis. “Even when my husband was alive, we struggled. I barely managed the home and took care of Hariharan, my 11-year-old son.
“My husband took care of the finances. I know nothing of farming and am struggling to run my home. My biggest responsibility now is to get my daughter into a college, but with Rs 2 lakh in loans hanging over us, this will be very difficult,” she added.
Nithya, however, is undeterred and has bought applications from two colleges in Pappakkoil and Nagapattinam. “While my father was alive, I scored around 900 in the quarterly and half-yearly examinations. My father’s death really affected me. In order to fill the void, I did my best in the board examinations and scored well. Although I do not have anyone with me right now to guide me on selecting courses, I am willing to take the BBA or BCA. But the financial position of my family is a challenge in the pursuit of my dreams,” a tearful Nithya said.