17-Year-Old Autistic Boy Secures Top Spot In Central Government Scholarship Exam

Autism could not impede the perseverance of 17-year-old Jatin Patil from Panvel, Maharashtra. He proved his mettle by bagging the top spot of the national merit list in a Central government scholarship exam conducted by Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India under the person with disability category (PWD).

The ‘Kishore Vaigyanik Protshahan Yojana’ or KVPY is conducted by the Central Government with an aim to encourage students to take up research as a career. The exam, started in 1999, is conducted three categories — General or Open, SC/ST and PWD. Since Jatin has secured the top place in his category, he will get a monthly stipend throughout his educational career from the Central Government — Rs 80,000 per annum, for his graduation period of three years and Rs 1,12,000 per annum while pursuing his masters.

Jatin’s paediatrician from Jaslok Hospital, Dr Roopa Srinivasan has said that Jatin is at the high functioning end of Autistic Spectrum Disorder(ASD). With immense help from his family, he has excelled academically and appeared for higher secondary examination from a mainstream school.

Jatin’s mother, Archana, reported that Jatin could not speak till the age of three-and-a-half years. He has been hyperactive and his ability to grasp things are excellent. Many schools did not admitted him for his disability, but his family did not give up and made him study from a mainstream school.

The Logical Indian congratulates Jatin for his achievement. We wish all the best for his future. We hope his story inspires others to work hard in life.