MUMBAI: Sangita (name changed), a 17-year-old victim of immoral trafficking and inmate of the Ulhasnagar Children’s Home, scored 90.3% in the Class XII exams. She is among the 209 students from children’s homes across the state to have cleared the HSC exam this year.
While inmates of children’s homes across the state take the exam every year, this is the first time more than 200 students cleared the exam scoring on an average of 50-60%, said project officer of the women and child development department, Aniruddha Patil. Patil said a total of 217 students had appeared for the Class XII exams, and 209 were able to clear it. These include 67 from Pune and 30 from Mumbai. Two students scored above 90% marks, while 34 scored between 80-90% marks.
Akshata Shinde, superintendent of the home, said Sangita battled severe trauma before tasting academic success. She said the teenager’s boyfriend had taken her to Bengaluru during the first Covid lockdown and forced her into prostitution there. After her parents lodged a missing complaint with Thane police, she was tracked down and admitted to the children’s home.
Shinde told TOI they had counselled her on a regular basis. The counsellor had convinced her to pursue her studies. An official said Sangita has now decided to complete her graduation.
