When merit overshadows poverty: Daughter of mid-day meal worker secured 79.83% in HSLC

A CORRESPONDENT

SARUPATHAR: Merit has nothing to do with the economic background of a person. Many students from economically backward families in remote areas have passed the HSLC exam with flying colours.

Barakha Gogoi (17), daughter of Bimal Gogoi, a carpenter, and Moromi Gogoi, a mid-day meal worker, has secured 79.83 per cent in this year's High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA). She also got letter marks in Mathematics, Social Science and Assamese.

"I am happy with my result. I am indebted to my parents, teachers and neighbours who helped me. I want to study Arts and become a good teacher. We have no electricity in our rented house. I study with the help of a kerosene lamp," said Barakha.

Her mother Moromi, who is a mid-day meal worker, said, "I go to school and prepare mid-day meals for the students. Her father is a carpenter but he does not get work on a regular basis. We live from hand-to-mouth. Barakha has seen days of extreme poverty but she never complained. She owns only a pair of clothes. Sometimes we go to bed without food, but she has a lot of patience." Altogether 2,594 candidates appeared for the HSLC examination, 2020 in six centres in Dhansiri subdivision under Golaghat district.

Also watch: Evening Bulletin | 8th June, 2020