Stories

What a second chance at school can do

Two young women from Yamuna Khadar who returned to education with Vikram's help, before NSF was registered.

NIOS re-engagement

Pushpa Kumari

Pushpa's family lived in Sahaswan, a small town in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district. In January 2013, her father migrated to Delhi's Yamuna Khadar slums in search of work, and in the disruption, Pushpa and her siblings' schooling stopped entirely — no records, no arrangement to continue studying.

Around that time, Vikram — before Navyug was even registered — was teaching informally in the Yamuna Khadar slums. He taught Pushpa and her brother Suraj for three months, free of cost, then helped get the affidavits and paperwork in order so they could formally re-enroll: Pushpa in Class 7, Suraj in Class 8.

Pushpa stuck with it, passing each class with good marks. After Class 12, she completed a B.A. through IGNOU alongside a six-month diploma in beauty therapy. She now works at a beauty parlour and is a strong financial support for her family.

NIOS re-engagement

Rupam Kumari

Rupam grew up in Delhi; her father earns a living pulling a pedal rickshaw, and the family's finances left no room to prioritize a daughter's education — a common view in the community at the time.

Vikram handled her enrollment, exam prep, books, and helped give her steady encouragement, including conversations with her parents about what her education could mean for the family.

Due to financial hardship, household responsibilities, and pressure from those around her, she often had to study late at night after finishing housework. She skipped from Class 8 straight into the Class 10 board exam and passed, then completed 11th and 12th. She went on to a B.A., and with Vikram's support, added computer and English-speaking courses. She's now a Data Entry Operator at a multinational company and a financial contributor to her household.

Both of these are direct examples of the NIOS re-engagement pathway described in Our Programs — in each case, Vikram personally taught the student and guided them through their board exams.

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