In a remarkable achievement highlighting the power of education and determination, 12 out of 25 girls from a Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district have cracked the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) in 2025. This success story is particularly significant because all the girls belong to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBC) families, representing some of the most economically and socially disadvantaged sections of society. Their accomplishment serves as a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative potential of accessible, quality education.

These young women hail from humble backgrounds. Princy, the daughter of a farm laborer, once feared her dreams of becoming a doctor would be crushed by poverty. Pooja Ranjan, a farmer's daughter from Sonbhadra, never imagined she could afford a path to medical college. Shweta, who grew up in a shop selling bicycle seat covers in Kaushambi, couldn't see herself going beyond the local "sarkari" school. Now, all three have cleared NEET, a turning point made possible by the opportunities provided by the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya.

The Sarvodaya Vidyalayas are residential schools run by the Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Department, providing free education and hostel facilities to children from economically weaker backgrounds from Class 6 to 12. Recognizing the potential in these students, the department has been working to improve education. The state government has developed Mirzapur’s Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, located in the Marihan area, into a "Center of Excellence" for the free preparation of talented girls for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. This initiative is a collaboration between the X Navodayan Foundation, Varanasi, and Tata AIG.

Currently, 39 girls are receiving free coaching for JEE and NEET at the Marihan center. Out of these, 26 registered for NEET, and 25 eventually appeared for the exam, with 12 achieving success. Among the successful candidates are Shweta Pal, Kumari Pooja Ranjan, Princy, Komal Kumari, Lakshmi, Anuradha, Komal, Lakshmi, Sabhya Prajapati, Dipti, and Pooja Sonkar.

The success of these girls demonstrates the impact of focused, quality coaching. Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun emphasized that the girls received free residential coaching at Sarvodaya, which runs classes 6 to 12 with hostel facilities for children from economically weaker backgrounds. Princy, who studied at Sarvodaya in Kaushambi until Class 10, moved to Marihan, about 76 km southwest of Varanasi, after passing the coaching entrance exam. Pooja and Shweta followed similar paths.

The girls themselves credit their success to the quality of coaching and their own hard work. Shweta expressed her surprise and gratitude, saying she never imagined this would be possible. Pooja highlighted the top-class coaching and regular tests that helped them prepare effectively, acknowledging that she never thought coaching at the school would be so good that she would clear the exam. "But with my hard work and assistance from the government, my dream has come true," she added.

This accomplishment has significantly boosted Sarvodaya's reputation. NEET coaching was initiated as a pilot program in Marihan in 2024, with support from Tata AIG and Ex-Navodayan Foundation, an alumni network of Navodaya Vidyalayas. The foundation approached families in and around Marihan and other Sarvodaya schools, and selected girls were transferred to Marihan for specialized coaching.

Kumar Prashant, Director of the Social Welfare Department, stated that the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Mirzapur has been developed as a center of excellence to provide free preparation to the state's talented girls for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. Across Uttar Pradesh, the Social Welfare Department operates 100 Sarvodaya Vidyalayas with residential facilities for students from economically disadvantaged families in Classes 6 to 12. These schools offer quality education and free coaching for competitive exams like JEE and NEET, providing a significant opportunity for talented students from underprivileged backgrounds to excel.

The success of these 12 girls from the Mirzapur Sarvodaya Vidyalaya is more than just a personal triumph; it is a powerful example of social inclusion in education and a testament to what can be achieved when underprivileged students are given the resources and opportunities they deserve.