183 slum children make it to DU colleges

Among the thousands of students who walked into various Delhi University and private college campuses this semester were 183 who live in slums.

These students were felicitated on Wednesday by Home Minister P Chidambaram,who said on the occassion that one million children under 18 in Delhis slums did not have access to education.

He lauded the efforts of Asha,a society that works with nearly 50 slum colonies and responsible for helping the 183 students gain admissions.

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For 18-year-old Pinki,who lives in Trilokpuri Slum Colony,the opportunity to pursue B.A programme from Maharaja Agrasen College meant empowerment and a chance to rid her life of poverty. Now,I can make my way out of poverty. I am gradually moving towards my goal, she said.

The students have gained admissions to Satyawati,Motilal Nehru,and Zakir Husain College amongst others.

The NGO has so far managed to help 600 students in their higher studies and aims to assist 5,000 slum children into higher education by 2012.

Dr. Kiran Martin,the organiser lauded the students for making it to DU colleges and said these students have achieved against all odds,competing with those from vastly more privileged backgrounds.

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