In Pune, several children of waste pickers have achieved remarkable success in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, overcoming significant financial and personal obstacles. Their stories highlight the transformative power of community support and determination.
Dipali Mane: A First-Generation Graduate
Dipali Mane is the first in her family to pass Std XII. She opted for the commerce stream and scored an impressive 85.6%. After completing Std X, the lack of a nearby college prompted her father, Vijay, to consider pulling her out of school. Vijay has been a member of the Kach, Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) for 20 years and works on a ghantagadi in Pimpri Chinchwad. However, Dipali approached the panchayat for assistance. The organization intervened, convincing her parents to enroll her in Marathwada Mitramandal College in Kalewadi, and provided educational materials and coaching.
Sandhya Kambale: Aspiring Police Officer
Sandhya's mother, Archana Shankar Kambale, works as a SWaCH waste picker in Hadapsar, as does her father. Sandhya chose commerce and scored 82%. She is now preparing for the police recruitment exam. I want to become a police officer and give my parents a better future, she said.
Shruti Londhe: Overcoming Adversity
After Shruti Londhe's father passed away, her family faced severe financial difficulties. My older sister would tutor me when she came back from college. KKPKP provided me with study materials and guidance for the exam, which gave me support, Shruti said. She pursued the vocational stream and scored 75%. Her ambition is to become an architect.
Sangita Nirmal: Aiming for an MBA
Sangita Nirmal's father died in 2020, but her mother, Vaijanta, played a crucial role in ensuring her education continued. Sangita scored 74.8% in commerce and aspires to study for an MBA. She hails from Warje.
Pooja Ravat: Supported by Parents
Pooja Ravat's success in HSC, where she scored 72.8% in commerce, is a testament to her parents' unwavering support. She too wants to become a police officer.
Mangal Sakat: Returning to Education
Mangal Sakat works as a waste picker in the morning and as a domestic worker in the evening. She dropped out of education 15 years ago but the panchayat helped her return. When I found time from work, I would study. I attended evening classes. My husband and children supported me, she said. She scored 69% in Arts.
Krishna Landge: Defying Disability
Krishna Landge has muscular dystrophy, diagnosed when he was in Std IV. His parents, both waste pickers, have always prioritized his education. My father carried me to the exam hall. Now all I want is to study hard and secure a government job. I won't be defined by my disability, Krishna said. He passed with 55% in the commerce stream, despite steadily losing movement in his legs.
These stories underscore the resilience of students from underprivileged backgrounds and the vital role of organizations like KKPKP in enabling educational opportunities.
