5 med students struggling for even basic needs to be funded by Collector

Vellore

While speaking to DT Next, Arul said that of the five students, one has opted for BDS while the others have chosen MBBS. “However, most are from economically poor backgrounds, lacking funds to even purchase basic necessities. While three are in a slightly better position, the other two are so poor that they do not even have proper footwear,” he said.

“A few local residents brought one of the students to me and I volunteered to help with the basic necessities,” the Collector said. Once news got around, others also volunteered to provide necessary aid. “Those from poor backgrounds usually struggle for acceptance in bigger cities and this often leads to the development of inferiority complex and other issues,” Arul added. Hence when one of the students came to him, he assured that all would be taken care of.

One of them, S Govindaraj, from Chinnakonarapatti in Kandli panchayat union, said that he and his mother struggled to survive with her income as a coolie. In another case, a girl from the district was nearly prevented from joining the MBBS course as the father feared for his daughter in a big city. “I had to send a team of officials to visit him who assured him that no harm would befall the girl. She will join the course shortly,” Arul added.