Mother’s sweat, sister’s sacrifice and Anagha’s dream: From Kurangatti tribal settlement to medical college

IDUKKI: The sweat Sreeja shed in the cardamom plantations of the high ranges has not gone in vain. Her daughter Anagha has become the first person from the Kurangatti tribal settlement in Idukki to gain admission to an MBBS course. She secured a merit seat at Kottayam Government Medical College.

A member of the Malayara community, Sreeja has two daughters, both of whom have been bright students. Her income came from working as a labourer in cardamom plantations. The CPI(M) also helped with the children's education. In 2015, Sreeja contested as a CPI(M) representative and was elected to the Adimali grama panchayat. She is now an ASHA worker.

Anagha has already etched her name in the history of Mannamkandam Government Tribal School by becoming its first Class 10 student to secure A+ in all subjects. She repeated the feat in Plus Two.

She initially joined a private institution for entrance coaching. But when the fees became too expensive, her elder sister Megha, a graduate, put her higher studies on hold and took up temporary work. She worked in shops as a salesgirl to help meet the expenses.

Meanwhile, Anagha's admission to the Tribal Department's coaching centre at Thevara came as a blessing. With her younger sister now admitted to medical college, Megha is preparing to resume her higher studies.

11th rank

Although the NEET examination, which Anagha had written with confidence, was cancelled across the country, she did not lose heart. She appeared for the exam again and secured the 11th rank in Kerala among candidates from the Scheduled Tribe category. She secured admission to Kottayam Medical College in the first allotment on September 1 itself.

"I want to pursue postgraduate studies in medicine. I have rural service in mind."

— Anagha