Shivamogga
Geetha N. and Ganesh M., both students from a migrant labour camp located on the outskirts of Shivamogga city, have cleared the II PU examination in the commerce stream with good scores. While Ms. Geetha secured 507 marks, Mr. Ganesh scored 403. These are among the first few children from the camp to study up to the pre-university level.
Their achievement stands unique for many reasons, including their background and the camp they have been living in. They are children of parents who are illiterate and have no regular income. Literally, they study under the streetlights near the camp, as the camp has no power supply.
How much they scored
Ms. Geetha, daughter of Nagaraj and Manjamma, secured 99 out of 100 in Kannada language and 74 in English. She cleared the exams by securing 81%, and that made history in the camp. Her father, Nagaraj, repairs home appliances. With no fixed income, the parents took loans from microfinance firms, but are finding it difficult to clear the dues.
Mr. Ganesh, whose father died a few years ago, missed classes for three months, as he went to work for a food caterer to support his family of four. His mother, Parvathi, sells decorative items in villages. He returned to college only after the teachers in the college and social activists of Shivamogga, who have been supporting the children in the camp, insisted that he continue his studies. He succeeded in clearing the exams with a first class (60%).
“Had he been regular to the classes, he would have secured higher marks. He is good at studies and is one among the bright children in the camp,” said T.L. Rekhamba, writer and social activist, who has been helping children in the camp to study.
Both the students want to study B.Com in Sahyadri College of Management, a government college of Kuvempu University, in Shivamogga, and prepare for competitive exams.
Unstable income
More than 60 families of migrant tribal communities, including Sudagadu Sidda, Duraga Muragi, Shillekyata, and Sindhola, have settled in the vacant land belonging to Kuvempu University adjacent to the university’s city office for over three decades. The elders in the family go out to earn by working in different sectors. Women sell utensils, bangles and necklaces, and collect hair. A few men continue with the traditional job of fortune telling. Recently, youth have taken up construction work.
The elders in the camp recall that they moved to Shivamogga from Chikkamagaluru 30 years ago. They live in tents built with wooden poles, and covered by cloth and plastic sheets. The families get their drinking water supply from the urban local body. However, there is no power supply, and there are no toilets.
A helping hand
George Saldanha, a social activist of Shivamogga, has been working for the welfare of the tribal people. Every day, he conducts evening classes for the students in the camp. He makes the children sit on the premises of Devaraj Urs Bhavan, a government building close to the camp, where the bright streetlights help the students study.
With the help of philanthropists in the city, Mr. Saldanha helps the children get seats in schools and colleges, and also study material.
“We got free seats in DVS College in Shivamogga for PUC because of Mr. Saldanha’s efforts. He has been helping us a lot,” said Ms. Geetha.
The students and parents are thankful to the administration of DVS College and philanthropists, who have been supporting students of the camp.
Published – April 09, 2025 05:11 pm IST
