Bharti Khandekar wants to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
A teen who lives on a pavement with her family in Madhya Pradesh's Indore was given a brand new flat by the city's civic body after she secured first division in her Class 10 exams.
Bharti Khandekar, daughter of daily wage labourers, scored 68 per cent in her Class 10 exams.
After instructions from Indore Municipal commissioner Pratibha Pal, an official informed her family about their new house.
"A girl from Indore who was living on footpath secured first division. Commissioner took cognisance and gifted the girl a 1 BHK flat. Commission also made arrangements so that the girl gets further education free of cost. Table, chair, books, clothes were also provided to her," said Prashant Dighe of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Indore.
Bharti Khandekar's father said that though he never went to school, he worked hard to ensure his children were not deprived of education. The family used to stay in a hut on the front side of the pavement in the city's Shivaji Market, but that was demolished during an encroachment drive.
"My wife and I are daily wage labourers. In the morning I go to work and my wife works as a sweeper in a school. Bharti manages her younger brothers. Then she studies till 1 o'clock at night, both of them wake up turn by turn to guard Bharti," said Dasharath Khandekar.
But despite the hardships, Bharti Khandekar -- who wants to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer -- scored 68% in class 10 examination.
The young girl gave the credit of her success to her parents and also thanked her teachers and mentors. "I secured 68 per cent in Class X. The credit of my success goes to my parents who worked hard to send me school. I am happy. I want to become an IAS officer. We were born on the footpath and studied there. We didn't have a house to live in, we were staying on the footpath. I would like to thank the administration for gifting me this house and making my further education free," she said.
Bharti Khandekar's mother, Laxmi, added that her daughter worked really hard to pull off this feat. "I am happy that my daughter passed the Class X examination and got us a house. Earlier, we were living on the footpath. For us, my daughter is like Goddess Laxmi. My husband and I, both are illiterate. But our children are studying in government schools. I get Rs 2,000 per month. My daughter studied very hard," she said.