From Adversity to Achievement: Poorest of the Poor on the Path to Becoming Doctors

Zindagi Foundation Empowers Underprivileged Students with Free Medical Coaching, Leading to Historic Results

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New Delhi, June 7, 2024:

Life is not the same for everyone. For some, achieving dreams is facilitated by available resources, while for others, it is a relentless struggle. However, when someone overcomes all odds to fulfill their dreams, it creates history. Such history has been made by the students of Zindagi Foundation, as all 20 of them, from the poorest backgrounds, have qualified for NEET, one of the most challenging exams in the world, to realize their dreams of becoming doctors.

Jagadish Mohapatra, son of a small farmer and daily laborer, faced financial struggles that made quality education seem unattainable. Despite his parents taking loans for his studies, Jagadish initially failed to crack NEET, leading to disappointment. However, under the guidance of Zindagi Foundation, he scored 705 in NEET ’24 and is now set to join a prestigious medical college.

Priyabrata Dehury’s life was upended by his father’s sudden illness and death. His mother struggled to provide food, let alone quality education. These hardships only strengthened Priyabrata’s determination to become a doctor. With immense effort and support from Zindagi Foundation, he scored 700 in NEET and is on his way to fulfilling his dream.

Sampada Muduli faced numerous hardships due to his father’s disability and his own kidney impairment issues. Instead of surrendering to his problems, he aspired to become a doctor. Zindagi Foundation supported him every step of the way, helping him achieve his dream.

Gayatri Das, daughter of a daily wage laborer, grew up in a village lacking medical facilities, driving her dream to become a doctor. She shares, “Zindagi Foundation gave me the support and resources I needed to pursue my dream. I am grateful for their belief in me, which kept me motivated despite all the challenges.”

Abhishek Kumar from Khagaria, Bihar, faced extreme hardship after his father’s death, with his mother working as a household help and his elder brother sacrificing his education to support Abhishek’s dream of becoming a doctor. Kalu Charan Soren, from a poor tribe in a remote village in Odisha, lost his father early in life but never gave up on his dream of becoming a doctor.

These stories of perseverance and triumph are echoed by every student at Zindagi Foundation. Founded by Ajay Bahadur Singh, who himself faced financial hardships that prevented him from becoming a doctor, Zindagi Foundation provides free medical coaching, study materials, and other essential facilities to extremely poor students. Since its inception in 2017, 123 students have qualified for NEET through the foundation’s support.

Ajay Bahadur Singh says, “I could not fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor due to extremely difficult financial conditions. Now, I am fulfilling my dream through these students. This year, for the first time, we included students from states beyond Odisha, such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. Every one of them has performed exceptionally well. We hope to continue expanding our mission to reach more needy and deserving students.”