Sanitation worker's son, orphan, Covid survivor: How underprivileged kids made it to TS medical colleges

Kommu Neha was in the fifth standard when her father died due to a heart attack. The shock and grief of the incident remained imprinted in her mind forever.

She took a pledge to become a Cardiologist to serve the poor and ailing. But she was worried if she could afford it. It was her mother, a daily wage laborer, who encouraged her to dream big despite the odds that life offered them.

Neha scored a total of 499 marks, securing an AIR of 85,816 and getting admission to Kakatiya Medical College.

A total of 190 students from Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS) cleared the NEET and secured seats in top medical colleges in the state. Success did not come so easy. It was a difficult journey they treaded to achieve the goal.

Kommu Neha

"When I told people about my dream of becoming a doctor, some discouraged me saying that it would cost lakhs of rupees. I also thought that since we are poor, we may not be able to afford it," says Neha, hailing from Achampet in Nagarkurnool district.

Neha also has two younger siblings- a brother and a sister. "But my mother was my source of encouragement. She urged me to study hard, get into a government college, and not worry about the fees. She assured me that she would manage to earn more money," says Neha.

Neha did her intermediate from TSWREIS school in Gowlidoddi in Rangareddy district. She prepared hard for NEET UG. Every day, she studied for 12 to 14 hours. She says that the faculty and lectures were really good in her college and that the hard training gave her confidence to ace ahead.

"Actually, my goal was to get into Osmania or Gandhi Medical College. I am waiting for the second round of counseling to get admission in either of the two," adds Neha.

B.Sanni

For B. Sanni, it's the "most memorable day other than his birthday." It's his second attempt for NEET and he has managed to secure a score of 535 marks and an AIR of 56,600, winning a seat in Gandhi Medical College. After the exam, he did a self-evaluation and give a score of 532 for himself. But now he is happy with the extra three marks that he scored.

"I have enjoyed the taste of success today," says Sanni.

Sanni's father is a sanitation worker in the gram panchayat and his mother is a daily wage worker. "The government helped me a lot. If I had to take coaching in a private institution, I am not sure if I would have been able to complete it as my family cannot afford it," says Sanni.

Sanni also says that TSWREIS didn't just give him subject lectures, but also taught him how to live in a society and many other moral values.

It was Sanni's father who wished that his son should become a doctor. "Growing up seeing poor people struggling to get treatment for various diseases, I decided that in the future, I want to become a doctor who serves the poor," adds Sanni.

Raikal Sri Varshini

Raikal Sri Varshini from Shadnagar is very happy because she cleared the medical entrance exam on her very first attempt. Sri Varshini scored 481 marks and AIR 1,01,937 ensuring a seat at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad.

"I am happy that my hard work paid off," says Sai Varshini.

Since childhood, Sri Varshini had dreamt of becoming a doctor. Last year, during the pandemic, Sri Varshini's father tested positive and was in a critical condition for a few days. That was when her dream got asserted.

Sri Varshini's father is a cab driver and her mother is a housewife. "I realized that I had to get into a government college otherwise my parent would not be able to afford it," says Sri Varshini.

She worked very hard and studied for more than 11 hours a day. "My teachers also played a big role in my achievement. Besides normal lessons, they also conducted regular motivation classes," says Sri Varshini.

Although she is happy about her achievement, she is waiting for further rounds of counseling to get into Kakatiya Medical College or Osmania Medical College.

"We also have a lot of dreams. But most of the time, due to our financial situation, we fall back. TSWREIS is a good platform for students like me," adds Sri Varshini.

Boini Venu Madhav

For Boini Venu Madhav, a hospital is not a new place. He has been accompanying his mother who is a nurse in a private hospital in Kothagudem since he was a child. "I used to go to the pediatric wards and play with the kids there," says Venu.

The roots of his inspiration to become a doctor go back to those days.

Venu's father passed away when he was a child and it was his mother who looked after him. "Those days were tough," says Venu. "My mother used to work day and night to earn to send me to school. She used to go for night shifts as well."

Venu scored 532 marks, securing an AIR of 58,688 and a seat in Osmania Medical College. "I had the marks to get into Gandhi but it's my long-term dream to study in Osmania," adds Venu.

Venu wants to specialize in Cardiology. He has to join Osmania Medical College in two days and he is excited.

Bharampura Spandana

Bharampura Spandana from Cherlapalem village in Mahabubabad scored 559 marks and secured an AIR of 40,387, winning a seat in Osmania Medical College.

"I want to become a Nephrologist," says an excited Spandana.

Spandana completed her intermediate from Resonance, a private college in Khamman but she also attended the long-term special training class for NEET offered by TSWREIS. She used to study for around 16 hours every day. Spandana's father is a lecturer in a private college and her mother is a housewife.

"I am very happy. My parents are also delighted about my achievement. I look forward to studying further," adds Spandana.