Tea-stall owner’s son to study MBBS

Sambalpur: The son of a tea-stall owner in Sambalpur city qualified NEET-2019 with an All-India rank of 3,564. He is likely to get an MBBS seat in a government-run medical college in Odisha. “It was my dream to become a doctor and I worked hard for it. I am very happy with my result,” said the 23-year-old Bikash Seth.
Bikash, who lives with his parents and younger brother in a two-room asbestos house in Badbazar, said his family’s financial condition was a huge hurdle in his education. But it did not deter him from achieving his dream. The family’s only source of income is the small tea stall run by Bikash’s father, Dilip Seth. Often Bikash helps his father in the stall too. “My parents could not afford a good coaching centre or tuition for my NEET preparation. They also could not buy me expensive books required for the test. Some of my relatives and friends provided me the books. I used to study five to six hours a day,” said an elated Bikash.
Bikash is hopeful of getting admission to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla. However, the money required for the medical education is a concern for Bikash’s family. His father, Dilip Seth, who is a matriculate, said, “Bikash used to work hard for the entrance examination. I knew that he would do something good. I am happy for him. I will try my best to arrange the money required for my son’s education,” he said.