Despite financial constraints and lack of resources, students clear NEET
by making use of free online lessons&nbsp;&nbsp; Alipurduar, West Bengal:&nbsp;The
tea district of Alipurduar is on the cusp of a transformation as the younger
generation of tea worker families seeks alternative career opportunities. The
recent success of five Scheduled Tribe students aged 20 and above in the National
Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)&nbsp;from <a href="https://bdokalchini.in/about">Kalchini block</a><a href="https://bdokalchini.in/about">&nbsp;</a>has become a source of inspiration to many
others.&nbsp;Despite the financial struggles and limited access to
coaching centres, Manish Minj of Bharno<span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 20px;">bari&nbsp;tea garden, Nidhi Lama of <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 20px;">Bukinbari&nbsp;tea garden, Rita Lama of Bhatpara tea garden, Sonam
Lama of Mechpara tea garden and Anjali Lakra of <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 20px;">Latabari did not give up on their dreams
of becoming doctors. They made it happen using online resources, finding
free coaching centres and pushing themselves beyond the limits. <o:p></o:p>Alipurduar has 64 tea estates, where a combined population of 7 lakh
people reside. According to registered trade unions in the block, almost <span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 20px;">80% of
these people belong to&nbsp;Scheduled
Tribes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The district administration has established English medium model schools
in many tea garden areas.&nbsp;However, students attend
government medium schools only as they cannot afford the fees at English medium school. For higher education, they must travel to
colleges in Falakata, Alipurduar, Jaigaon or Birpara. If there are no available
slots, their last option is the college located in&nbsp;Binnaguri in Jalpaiguri district.Nidhi Lama, the daughter of contractor Nayan Deep Lama and anganwadi worker Sanju
Lama, secured 88% marks in Class 12 last year, but could not clear NEET in the first attempt. Her other family members work in the tea garden. “I did not lose hope when I failed to clear the exam. I decided to double down
and use free YouTube videos to enhance my knowledge,” she told 101Reporters. Nidhi has joined MBBS course in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>There are no institutions in Alipurduar district to prepare students for NEET, JEE or government exams. So the district police have stepped
in to establish ‘Koshish’, a free coaching centre in the garden areas to prepare
students for West Bengal Civil Services exams.“Students also have to travel to Cooch Behar district,
which is 22 km away from Alipurduar, to get coaching for government examinations. The round-trip bus fare alone costs Rs 200,
which is a significant expense for families surviving on a daily wage of Rs 250,” said Bikash Mahali, Centre of Indian Trade Unions leader at Kalchini tea garden."Many families have one member working as a tea garden labourer, while
someone else works as a bigha&nbsp;(casual)&nbsp;worker,
who is called in only when tea leaves need more picking. Bigha&nbsp;workers earn Rs 240 per day, but they get work for only three
months a year. So students often hesitate to spend Rs 200 to travel to
Cooch Behar,” said&nbsp;Ganesh Lama, United Trade Union Congress&nbsp;leader, Kalchini tea garden.Same is the case with coaching centres in Siliguri, where high fees also act
as a barrier. According to trade union leaders,&nbsp;<span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 20px;">only 12% of ST
students get the opportunity to appear for NEET and JEE. Others try for government jobs, after attending internet cafes and taking advantage of free online classes. <o:p></o:p>Sesang Lama from Raimatang tea plantation is actively preparing for NEET. Her father
Persing Lama is a tea plantation worker. "In our financially challenged
families, girls often do not receive separate tuition. However, I have a strong
aspiration to become a doctor in future. So, I am putting in a dedicated effort. I attend the district police coaching centre at times to enhance
my general knowledge and mathematics skills," Sesang told 101Reporters.<div class="embed-container" align="center"><img src="https://assets.ramen.101reporters.com/inpic/2023/10/101RPT1780625/story_photos_(default)_(81).jpg" id="1826588" title="" style="width: 100%;"></div>Clockwise from top left: Nidhi Lama, Anjali Lakra, Manish Minj, Rita Lama, Sonam Lama (Photos sourced by Sudip Chatterjee, 101Reporters)Equitable access to education<o:p></o:p>Manish Minj&nbsp;from <span style="font-family: Charter; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 20px;">Bharnobari&nbsp;tea garden area of Kalchini had the opportunity to study medicine through the
district police coaching initiative. Despite facing financial constraints, he
pursued his dream of becoming a doctor after witnessing the lack of healthcare
services in the tea garden area. Manish aspires to return to his village to
provide free medical treatment to the tea garden workers.Hailing from Latabari of Kalchini block, Anjali Lakra said she wanted to serve the residents of her area in future. Both her parents&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 20px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">are tea plantation workers.&nbsp; &nbsp;“The stories show education has the power to uplift individuals and
communities. These students have the potential to make a significant impact on
healthcare in their region, and their achievements are a source of pride for the
entire tea belt communities” said&nbsp;Rajesh Barla of Bharatiya Tea Workers Union.<o:p></o:p>The parents of these children could never
dream of higher education earlier, but now they are witnessing their sons and
daughters pursue their aspirations and prepare for esteemed exams, defying
financial challenges and limited resources.<o:p></o:p>"Right from the beginning, I was determined that nothing would
hinder my son's education. That is why I continued to educate him, even when we
did not have enough to eat. My daughter is in her last year of medical school,
and my son is soon starting his first year. Our dream is on the verge of coming
true. My son will become a doctor," Raghu said.<o:p></o:p>Sanju Oran&nbsp;said he resolved to become a doctor in his childhood itself when he found out that many people in his locality could not afford medical care. Sanju is currently enrolled at the North Bengal
Medical College and Hospital. His father Suresh Oran is a labourer in Chuapara tea garden. <o:p></o:p>“Earlier, children of plantation workers became labourers themselves. My
generation did not receive much education, so we started working in the
plantations after class 8. The children, however, are aspiring for a different
path&nbsp;—&nbsp;the one that brings dignity to their lives,” said Suresh.Similarly, Parvati Oran,&nbsp;a student from Torsha garden, is currently working
towards a master's degree in English. Her father Vinod Oran works in the tea
garden. “Parvati’s ambition is to become a college professor and challenge the
stereotype that girls from tea gardens lack education… Earlier, daughters were married
off at an early age. Now, the people have embraced the concept of their daughters
becoming self-sufficient and achieving their aspirations. Let them fulfill
their dreams,” Vinod said.<o:p> </o:p><o:p style="">Edited by Tanya Shrivastava</o:p><o:p style="">Cover Photo - Representative image (Photo - Flickr/</o:p>nalin a)