Sometimes, even after passing the exam, students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds encounter considerable difficulties in continuing their education.
Clearing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is considered one of the toughest exams in India. Every year, lakhs of students appear for the competitive exam. While some manage to qualify the examination in one go, others may take multiple tries to achieve their desired scores. This competitive exam is the gateway for students seeking admission into prestigious engineering colleges, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
Sometimes, even after passing the exam, students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds encounter considerable difficulties in continuing their education. Speaking on the same lines, read the story of Bonila Aryan Roshan, who is dealing with these difficulties despite securing admission to IIT.
Hailing from Siddipet district in Telangana, Bonila Aryan Roshan’s family faces significant financial challenges. His mother works as a daily laborer, earning only Rs 200 per day, while his father passed away when Roshan was young, leaving the family in a poor economic situation.
Roshan successfully cleared the JEE examination and secured a rank of 2406 in the SC category. However, financing his education at IIT Tirupati has become a significant challenge for his family. They managed to gather Rs 50,000 to cover his first semester’s fees. But how will he manage the expenses for the rest of his studies? This uncertainty loomed over Roshan as he embarked on his academic journey, highlighting the financial struggles that many students from underprivileged backgrounds face in pursuing higher education.
Although IITs eliminate the Rs 1 lakh tuition fee for SC/ST students, numerous other substantial expenses remain, including accommodation, meals, and registration fees, which can range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per year. For families with restricted incomes, these additional financial burdens can be daunting, making it difficult for students to manage their educational costs effectively.
Roshan, who earned a seat in the B.Tech Chemical Engineering program, secured admission under the SC category with a rank of 2,406. According to the TOI report, Kunwar Devendra Singh from Uttar Pradesh pledged to cover his expenses for all semesters. “I shared all the documents with him. He assured me he would pay the expenses,” Roshan was quoted as saying by TOI. He intends to share his student ID and other necessary details with his sponsor as soon as they are issued. This will help facilitate the financial support he will receive for his studies and living expenses at IIT.
The Bengaluru-based Foundation for Excellence has also offered to assist with his educational and living expenses. “They asked for my mark sheets and other details. I shared everything with them. They will inform me about the help they can provide by Thursday,” Roshan was quoted as saying to TOI. He noted that several other individuals have also pledged their assistance for the upcoming semesters. “I am now confident that I will get to continue my education,” he added, mentioning that he has already secured around Rs 1.6 lakh from various donors. The first semester classes at IIT Tirupati began on Thursday(August 1).