IAS Officer’s Noble Step Helped Nine Yesteryear Child Labourers to Pass Matriculation With Flying Colours

Baripada: The happiness of the nine students of Bisoi Nodal High School in the tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district knew no boundaries when the results of this year’s HSC examinations were declared and all of them passed out with flying colours. It was a special day in their life as it was going to change their destiny. Their success in the exams also assumes significance and holds inspiration to many as they were once living as child laborers in yesteryears due to acute poverty.

The nine students – Ajay Kumar Patra, Jitendra Kumar Nayak, Hemant Kumar Murmu, Panadu Singh, Guja Murmu, Dipu Mahakud, Kartik Mahakud, Durga Marandi and Rajesh Patra, are happy today for the benevolent action of an upright officer who always stood for the needy.

At this critical juncture of their childhood life, in 2014, a young and dynamic officer, the then Collector of Mayurbhanj, Rajesh Pravakar Patil, came to their rescue and brought them to Bisoi Nodal School under the ‘Mun Bi Padhibi’ scheme implemented by Odisha government.

Six years later, they have cleared the annual matriculation examination successfully and are gearing up for higher education. They have nurtured dreams to earn laurels in their life.

Two of the nine children – Ajay and Jitendra, have secured over 60 percent marks with others being successful with decent marks. Six year later, after being given a new lease of life, they are now all set to embark on a new journey to conquer the world.

Meanwhile, the IAS officer Parbhakar Patil, who helped the children to reach this stage, and is now Director Special Projects, has expressed happiness over the success and wished all the best of luck to the students.