A newspaper vendor was hit hard by the Covid-induced lockdown because many of his regular customers were not buying papers.
Despite the financial difficulties, Sankar Naskar did not compromise on his son’s studies and let him continue.
Subhadeep Naskar scored 95 per cent in Madhymik this year.
ABP Pratibha Britti 2023 recognised 11 children of newspaper vendors who scored above 90 per cent in their Class X and XII examinations this year.
The event was held at Mahajati Sadan on Tuesday.
As many as 98 girls and boys, whose parents deliver newspapers door-to-door every morning, have scored more than 60 per cent in either Class X or Class XII. They were felicitated too.
“All the 109 students have been recognised for their feat The top 11 students (who scored above 90 per cent) have been given in addition a sum to buy books to motivate them to read,” said an organiser.
For most of them, the marks they have scored are not a testament to their knowledge but to their resilience and ability to multi task.
Shagnyeek Halderlost his father in January 2021 and the entire responsibility of running the family and home fell on his mother, Archana.
Archana, who lives in Patuli, would go to collect the newspapers at 6.10am and after distributing them would sit down by the roadside to sell the rest.
Shagnyeek, a Class IX student, started helping Archana and there were days he would distribute the newspaper before going to school.
Shagnyeek scored 93 per cent in Class X.
“At times I would get angry because suddenly there was so much responsibility on me. My son was studying in a private English medium school and education is expensive. But we managed and he understood our struggles,” said Archana.
For many of these children, education is not something that can be taken for granted. They have to perform well if they want to continue with it unlike those in more privileged homes.
“I could not afford tuition teachers in all the subjects that my son needed. But still, he scored 95 per cent,” said Naskar.