Waste picker’s daughter passes Class X with flying colours

PUNE: Gaurish Rajguru, a waste picker’s daughter, scored 90% in the SSC board exams. The percentage, she said, brings her one step closer to her dream of becoming an IAS officer.

“My mother is a waste picker and my father is in the construction industry. By scoring well, I feel like I have repaid one-fourth of the debt I owe my parents,” she said.

Her father had taken a loan from work for her education. Her fees were Rs50,000 per year. “My father is still paying the fee in instalments. Even though our income is not high, I never wanted for anything,” the 15-year-old girl said.

Another waste picker’s daughter, Gauri Fulavale, scored 71%. “My mother had borrowed Rs22,000 to pay for my sisters’ and my studies. I have seen her cut down on ration during the start of the academic year to save money for our books and uniforms. My percentage brought a smile on her,” she said.

Facing similar hardships is Anuradha Vaghmare, whose parents are housekeepers. She scored 65%. She would often accompany her mother to work and help her clean and sweep and then return home to study. She wants to join the police force and help women in particular. “I have often seen police officers ignoring the complaints of women. I want to join the force and help women,” she said.