Collector helps Irula girl enroll in nursing course

TIRUVANNAMALAI:

Collector

K S Kandasamy on Monday called on 18-year-old

Irula girl

Suganya, who was rescued from bonded labour along with her family members six years back.


With the collector’s help, Suganya has managed to join a

nursing course

after completing her Class XII examinations in March last.

A revenue official said Sadaiyan, 50, a woodcutter, and his wife Vasanthi of Kavaniyathur village in Vandavasi, along with their four children including last daughter Suganya, were working as bonded labourers in a brick kiln till they were rescued by revenue officials in 2013.

According to Sadaiyan, two decades ago he had fallen ill and to meet his medical expenses, his wife had borrowed Rs 5,000 from a middlemen. Taking advantage of this, the middlemen had made them work as bonded labourers in a brick kiln unit at Puchi Athipattu in Tiruvallur district to recover the money.

“Suganya was born when we were serving as bonded labourers and she too worked as a bonded labourer till she turned 12 when she completed Class VI,” he said.

After the family was rescued in 2013, International Justice Mission (IJM) was monitoring them and were morally backing Suganya to pursue higher education. The group also works for rehabilitation of Irula community members in Kavaniyathur.

Suganya, who scored 286 out of 500 marks in SSLC, managed to pass HSC by scoring 266 out of 600 marks.

“From childhood, I was passionate towards medicine, and chose science group in Class XI and XII. As my scores were not sufficient for joining MBBS, I expressed my wish to join nursing to the collector. Considering this, collector Kandasamy with the help of local NGO, helped me join a nursing course at a private college in Vandavasi. They also assured that they would sponsor the expenses for the course. I am grateful to the collector and other organizations for helping me realise my dream,” Suganya said.

Kandasamy, who called on the girl to convey his wishes, handed over new dress, sweets and fruits to Suganya to appreciate her

hard work

and confidence.