For the first time in the history of the Sainik School in Kazhakkoottam, four students coming from the tribal community of Attapadi passed out with flying colors after seven years of transformation. Although the task in itself was difficult but thanks to the initiative of the alumni group of the 1991 batch that developed the way for this success.

It was in 2016 that around twenty-four tribal students from Attapadi were coached for the sixth grade All India Sainik Schools Entrance Exam. Though 15 students - belonging to various tribal government schools in Kottathara, Sholayar, Jellippara, and Karara did not only pass the entrance test but also qualified the medical and interview test. The seven students who earned laurels are R Vishnu, R Aneesh, N Binuraj, B Hari, M Midhin, B Sivakumar, and Manikantan.

Hari came to back his tribal nest after he failed to clear the seventh grade but Manikantan was keen on getting his academics completed. Sivakumar also had an emotional breakdown causing him to discontinue the studies. Eventually, the list of students was reduced from seven to four.

The remaining four are set to appear for their Board Examinations this coming month. The batch belonging to the twelfth grade have already secured passing out grade. It is expected that they will get some good scores.

This Project Shine was envisioned to commemorate 25 years of the 1991 batch's passing out from their alma mater. The initiative has been dedicated in the memory of their batchmate, Shine P Baby, a lecturer at Rajagiri College, Kalamassery who passed away in 2006.

Project Shine has encouraged these students to aim for high and to achieve the impossible. The team is pretty sure that these students will continue to make their own choices no matter what hurdles come in their way.

Currently, there are eight tribal students from Attapadi and seven from Wayanad, which includes two girls who are studying in different grades at Sainik School.

Education stands as the Fundamental Right of every citizen of the country. It should be accessible to all. Especially, the tribal community who have been disadvantaged since ages should now be given a platform to develop their career and secure advancement. The integration of the tribals and the mainstream is not possible unless education is infiltrated properly as that will help to develop a common chord between the two.

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Reference:

• newsindianexpress.com
• thehansindia.com