In a heartwarming display of determination and commitment, a mother and son duo from the waste-picking community of India recently took the Class 10 state board exams together. Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial struggles and limited resources, they passed the exams with flying colours.

Manthan Telange, a 16-year-old student, earned an impressive 64%, while his mother, Monica, who works as a waste picker, achieved a respectable 51.8% mark.

The single mother, who lives in Hadapsar vasti with her family, used to read study material from her son Manthan's school WhatsApp group. She wanted to finish her matriculation because it was the minimal requirement for many professions.

Monika said, "I always wanted to study but didn't know how to fill out a form. My son insisted on pursuing my education and guided me throughout. I always thought I would fail, but all my co-workers and supervisor supported me. Being a single mother was very difficult for me, but if I can pass 10th, then who is stopping me from passing 12th?"

While Monika is preparing for her 12th-grade exam, the proud son is preparing for the NEET and wants to become a doctor to help support his mother.

"Mathan was my 'tutor'. He wants to become a doctor and will prepare for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). I want to do a nursing course and prepare for Class 12 exams in future," Monika stated.

Waste-Picking Community Shines in SSC Result

Similar to previous years, children of waste pickers in the Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP) performed well in the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) examination.

Sairaj Tatyarao Sonawane of Bhawani Peth garnered 81.20%. He has seen both his parents work hard for him to continue his studies. "My father works as a bathroom cleaner, and my mother as an office cleaner. I couldn't understand many things as I never got any tuition. I started working hard toward the end, and my parents were proud of me."

Harshada Raju Umap of Bibwewadi scored 77%. "I passed class 8th and 9th during Covid. It was challenging to understand everything in the online mode. My mother is a rag picker, and my father is a sweeper. They have always supported me. I was a fine student, but my parents couldn't afford tuition. So, I faced many difficulties in understanding certain subjects like maths," she explained.

"I am delighted that I finally scored well, and I want to become a police officer to give them a good life," she added, according to a report in The Indian Express

Jayesh Navgire, who has lived with his sister and mother since his father abandoned him fourteen years ago, has received 64%. Sonali Kisan Rathod was transferred to Maher Institute after her parents died eleven years ago. Sonali, who only has brothers, had a grade of 65%.

"We urge schools to be more proactive in supporting these children and their families. They still face issues like bureaucratic hassles while applying for scholarships, tacit discrimination, and sometimes a lack of academic support. The ball is in the school administrators' court to stand up for these children who have shown nothing but a burning passion for learning through their hard work and dedication," said Aditya Vyas, a KKPKP activist.

These stories are a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance and inspire many.

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In yet another inspiring story of environmental activism, a resident of Guwahati's Rehabari has taken it upon himself to make a difference. Kaushik Guha, 40, is driven to make his hometown greener.

Guha, a marketing manager by profession but a cyclist at heart, is on a quest to ride his bicycle around Guwahati and plant a sapling daily for the welfare of his city and future generations.

A recent Facebook post by Cyclo-a-plant reported that he had achieved a monumental feat by completing 509 plantation drives as of May 24th, 2023.

Guha was inspired to take action after seeing how quickly the tree cover in his home city of Guwahati was disappearing. He wanted to do his part to mitigate the negative consequences of tree cutting.

He picked the bicycle as his way of communication while touring throughout the city, seeking spots to plant a seedling. He is also a fitness fanatic. So he gets on his cycle daily and goes to a nursery to buy a sapling, then rides to a location where the sapling may be carefully planted.

'Plant A Seedling Everyday'

Guha says, "If we don't plant trees and if we don't save our trees now and for the Future, we will suffer without water, without rain, and extremely hot weather."

While his goal is to plant a seedling every day, his ambition goes beyond that. Guha tries to interact with local communities to promote the benefits of cycling.

He believes that if young people start riding bicycles, we will have a cleaner environment and a healthier, more active generation. Guha regretted the lack of resources for his goal, which has prevented him from providing a safety fence around the seedlings.

However, the locals have been immensely helpful in caring for the plants in any way they can.

He has also received support from his family and friends, who have accompanied him on rides and helped him buy and plant seedlings.

Friends also assisted him in creating the Cyclo-a-plant Facebook page, where images are posted daily to record his progress.

Guha continues to cycle to new areas every day and plant a seedling. He is gradually being joined by other environmentalists, cyclists, and common Guwahatians who want to support his goal.

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A woman and her brother, separated at the Partition more than 75 years ago, were reunited at the landmark Kartarpur Corridor in an emotional reunion made possible by social media.

Mahendra Kaur, 81, of India, was reunited with her 78-year-old brother Sheikh Abdul Aziz of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, at the Kartarpur Corridor after discovering through a social media post that they were siblings separated during the 1947 Partition.

After connecting through a post about a man and his sister being separated during the Partition, the two families realized that Kaur and Aziz were estranged siblings.

Sardar Bhajan Singh's family from the Indian side of Punjab had tragically ripped apart during Partition when Aziz moved to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. At the same time, his other family members stayed in India, according to a report in NDTV He got married at an early age but deeply yearned to see his parents and other family members.

Kaur and Aziz came in wheelchairs to the Kartapur Corridor on Sunday. The family reunion was filled with emotional scenes, with family members performing songs and sprinkling flowers to express their love.

Families Overjoyed With Reunion

Overjoyed, Kaur repeatedly held and kissed her brother's hands, and the two families also went to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur together, sitting side by side and sharing a meal. A video capturing their emotional reunion was shared on Twitter by the Official Page of PMU Kartarpur.

In addition, as a symbol of their reunion, they exchanged gifts. Following the heartwarming reunion, the Kartarpur government presented both families with sweets and garlands.

The Kartarpur Corridor connects the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province, the final resting place of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev, with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Punjab state.

The four km-long corridors allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to reach the Darbar Sahib without a visa.

Also Read: Kerala Class 10th Topper, Who Died In Road Mishap, Saves 6 Lives Through Organ Donation

A Class 10 topper, BR Sarang, who lost his life in a road accident before Class 10th results, has donated his organs, saving the lives of six patients. His parents,  Bineesh Kumar and Rajanish agreed to donate the organs of their son BR Sarang, who was 16 years old.

Sarang, a student of Government Boys HSS, Attingal, was injured in a road accident near Kunanthukonam bridge in Vadakkottukav on May 6 while traveling in an autorickshaw with his mother, as reported by Economic Times. He died while undergoing treatment for injuries caused by an accident that took place that day.

He passed away on Wednesday morning before the SSLC results were announced. He scored a full A+ without any help of grace marks.

Encouraging Organ Donation

Earlier on Friday, V Sivankutty, State’s General Education Minister, also got emotional while announcing the SSLC results at a press conference. The minister broke down in tears during the press meeting after mentioning that the top grade was scored by Sarang, who recently lost his life in an accident. He said the family’s decision to donate organs would encourage society for social service.

In another similar incident, a 48-year-old brain-dead woman from Chandigarh gave a new lease of life to two end-stage organ failure patients after her family agreed to donate her organs. The recipients included a 13-year-old from Phagwara, Punjab, and a 43-year-old woman from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Organ donation can save the lives of several patients in need. However, in India, people hesitate to donate their organs. Despite this, the stories mentioned above inspire and encourage people to reconsider their decisions and take the noble step of organ donation. 

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