Andhra Pradesh girl beats family pressure, tops intermediate exams after escaping child marriage

A young girl, once on the brink of a forced marriage, has defied all obstacles and emerged as the top scorer in this year’s intermediate examinations in Andhra Pradesh. Her journey is one of remarkable courage and determination in the face of adversity. Hailing from Pedda Harivanam in Kurnool district’s Adoni mandal, her determination and resilience have been her guiding forces. Despite her impoverished background and the pressure from her parents, who had already married off her three sisters, Nirmala refused to give up on her education. When her parents sought to end her schooling due to financial constraints and the lack of a nearby junior college, Nirmala sought help from local legislator Y Saiprasad Reddy during his outreach programme.

On her achievement, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has also extended its best wishes and, through its official social media channels, posted,” Congratulations to G. Nirmala from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Kurnool, a residential girls’ school run by the Ministry of Education for the disadvantaged sections in India, for securing the top spot in the 1st Year Intermediate exam of Andhra Pradesh Intermediate Board.”

Moved by her plight, Reddy brought her situation to the attention of District Collector G Srujana, leading to Nirmala’s rescue from the child marriage. With the intervention of the district administration, she was enrolled in Kasturba Gandhi Balikala Vidyalaya at Aspari, marking the beginning of her transformative journey.

From that point on, Nirmala’s dedication and perseverance knew no bounds. Despite the challenges she faced, she excelled in her studies, culminating in her topping the intermediate exams this year with an impressive score of 421 out of 440.

Nirmala’s dreams extend beyond personal success; she aspires to become an IPS officer, aiming to combat child marriages and support girls like herself in pursuing their aspirations.

Her story is a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering support of individuals like Reddy and initiatives of the government, such as those championed by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, in empowering young girls.