Breaking stereotypes and economic hardships, Narikuravar siblings secure admission to CIPET

Breaking social stereotypes and economic hardships, a sister and brother from the marginalised Narikuravar tribal community have secured admission to the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), becoming the first from their community to do so.

G. Parthima and her younger brother, G. Santhosh, from Chinnaiyanchatram village in Kancheepuram district, were born into a family of five children. Their father is ill and undergoing treatment, while their mother works as a daily wage labourer under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) scheme. The family’s income was barely enough to meet its daily needs.

Their two elder brothers and elder sister could not continue their education beyond school and now work to support their families. As Parthima, 20, joined school late, she studied in the same class as her younger brother Santhosh, 17, official sources said.

During an outreach drive, officials of the Social Justice Department identified the siblings, who were then studying in another school, and admitted them to the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Kumili in Chengalpattu district, where they completed Class XII.

Recognising their academic potential while they were studying in Class XII, their teachers encouraged them to join the JEE coaching programme organised by the Social Justice Department. They underwent JEE Main coaching at Mallur in Salem and JEE Advanced coaching in Cuddalore. They appeared for the JEE Main examination, cleared it, and secured admission to CIPET, Bhubaneswar. Parthima is set to join the Manufacturing Engineering programme, while Santhosh is enrolled in the Plastic Engineering programme, official sources said.

“We are very happy to have cleared the entrance examination and secured admission to CIPET, Bhubaneswar. But our struggles did not end there. My father is ailing and my family is struggling to earn a livelihood. At that stage, we were subjected to enormous pressure from our relatives not to leave home and were asked to give up our aspirations and remain with the family,” Parthima said.

Officials, teachers and social workers persuaded the family to allow the siblings to pursue higher education. They recently met Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu and officials of the Social Justice Department in Chennai. Official sources said the State government would bear the siblings’ education, accommodation and travel expenses.