Born with disability, Malkangiri girl clears HSC by writing with toes

Bhubaneswar: Every morning before leaving for construction work, Narayan Khimudu would watch his daughter carefully hold a pencil between her toes and bend over a notebook with fierce determination. For years, that image carried a silent message for the family that 16-year-old Laxmi would never allow her physical condition to define her future.Born without functional hands and with only one functional leg, Laxmi Khimudu of Sindhirmal village in Malkangiri district has now achieved what many thought impossible. She cleared the Annual High School Certificate (HSC) examination by writing every paper with her foot. A student of Government UG High School in Sindhirmal under Malkangiri block, Laxmi secured a D-grade, overcoming enormous physical and social challenges along the way, but her willpower and patience were definitely A-grade.From learning to grip a pencil with her toes as a child to writing lengthy examination papers with patience and precision, her journey has become an inspiration for many in the district.“She was always determined to study like other students. She attended school regularly and practised writing for hours every day using her foot. We never forced her. It was her willpower,” said her father Narayan, a daily-wage construction worker.Despite the physical challenges, Laxmi rarely missed classes and never sought sympathy despite her condition. Instead, she focused on becoming independent in her studies and daily life.For Laxmi, however, the matric result is only the beginning. She now dreams of pursuing higher secondary education in Sindhirmal and continuing her studies further. “I am unable to travel long distances, which is why I have decided to study Class XII in my village itself,” she said.Soft-spoken but determined, the teenager hopes her story will encourage other children with disabilities to believe in themselves and never give up on education. Neighbours and villagers, many of whom watched her grow up battling odds, celebrated her success as a victory of her perseverance.