The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Metpalli girl's plight saddens YSR

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Friday, Aug 25, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Metpalli girl's plight saddens YSR

Special Correspondent

Government plans loan scheme for poor students

HYDERABAD: A special scheme is being introduced by the State Government to provide bank loans to poor meritorious students so that they can pursue professional and vocational education.

A high-level meeting with officials of the Higher Education Department and banks will be convened shortly in this regard.

This was announced by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Thursday while referring to the plight of Mekala Rajyalakshmi of Metpalli in Karimnagar district who secured a seat in MBBS in Mamata Medical College, Khammam, but was unable to pursue the course due to poverty.

Studying medicine

According to a press release from the Chief Minister's office, Dr. Reddy described the plight of such students as `unfortunate.' Rajyalakshmi's inability to pay the fee (she works in fields) was brought to the Chief Minister's notice by an old friend on Wednesday.

Moved by her plight, the Chief Minister observed that she should not remain a "farm labour but study medicine and save people's lives."

He asked officials to find out whether the college management had allotted Rajyalakshmi's seat to someone else and bring her parents to the city.

Kalam's example

Dr. Reddy cited the example of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who was born in an ordinary family but went on to become a top scientist thanks to the encouragement he was given.

"No one had imagined that he would become the President," he said, adding that there was every possibility of a poor student rising to the top, if encouraged.

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