A 21-year old girl hailing from Rajasthan's Chomu Village, who was married at the age of eight, is all set to become a doctor after clearing the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) for medical education. Undeterred by orthodox surroundings, she cleared the medical test in her third attempt and scored 603 out of 720 marks.
At the time of her marriage, Rupa Yadav who was in class 3rd continued her education with the support of her parents. She belongs to a poor farmer family in Kareri village of Chomu (Close to Jaipur).
Both Rupa and her elder sister Rukma were married to two brothers, Shankar Lal Yadav and Babulal Yadav of Nirman village in Chomu. She was married to Shankar, when she was 8 year old but she was officially sent to her in laws home only after she completed her class 10th, in which she scored 84 % marks.
Moreover, Rupa received a conducive atmosphere at her in laws place. Her husband got her admitted to a private school, about 6km from the village. She managed to score 81% and 85% in class 11th and 12th.
“When my parents tied my knot with Shekhar, I was 8 year old and he was 12 year old. But instead of becoming upset about it, I chased my dream and studied hard and subsequently I was lucky enough to find cooperative in-laws who supported me all through my struggle. But still its difficult to manage household chores and studies in village. I appeared for medical entrance test three times and this time I was sure that I will get through”, Rupa told DH.
However, Rupa's struggle hasn't been easy either. Financial crunch in her family was one of the roadblocks which she and her husband managed to get through.
“I belong to a poor family and my in-laws are also not well off. My husband started plying a cart and sold off his buffalo to arrange money for my coaching. At the same time I was also fortunate enough to get support of Allen institute who waived off my 75 percent fees for NEET coaching”, she added.
In her first attempt at the AIPMT, she scored 415 marks and was ranked 23,000, whereas in second attempt of NEET, she scored 503. Confident and thankful to her family and village, Rupa has become an inspiration. Currently, she is attending counseling sessions for allotment of medical college.
