Lack of resources often dash hopes of talented students from economically poor background from making it to the top. However, two girl students from Surendragarh Hindi Secondary School run by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) have shown that ‘if there is consistency then no power on earth can stop one from achieving success’. The two have made city proud after their model got selected for satellite that is proposed to be launched in space. For Swati Vinod Mishra and Kajal Ramnaresh Sharma, it is a dream come true as they are among 1,000 students from across the country drafted for making satellite at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. These girls were lucky as their Science teacher, Deepti Bisht, recognised their potential and helped them to make it to the elite club.

 

About 1000 students from across the country are drafted to prepare tiny satellite and the two girls are tasked with designing and building Femto. The satellite will reach an altitude of 33,000 to 38,000 meters in space and beam information to Earth. The Femto weighs only 50 to 80 grams and will be 2.5 to 4 cm. Both students are currently undergoing on-line training to build satellites and they will be provide off-line training from January 18 to 22. The students would build 1,000 tiny satellites that would launched in space on February 7. For the past two years both students have been working to set a world record for satellites. For this, Dr Milind Chaudhary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation and Dr Manisha Chaudhary and Dr Ajinkya Kotawar of Gyan Foundation and Dr Vishal Lichde provided special assistance. Bisht provided right guidance to these girls and thereafter their dream took the concrete shape and they got down to preparing a working model for the satellite.

 

The students in civic run schools hails from poor families but once again it is proven that talent is not forte of only rich and big names in the education sector. The big leap by these two students of the civic run schools and their aim of taking a leap into space was applauded by Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari. Mayor said the feat of these two students is going to inspire others and make them believe in their talents and dream big. He also congratulated the school teacher who inculcated right habits among these students. Tiwari felicitated the two students and their Science teacher when they met him at NMC Headquarters on Thursday. Students are charged Rs 10,000 to participate in the world record attempt. However, the fees were waived off in view of the persistence of the students in overcoming the adverse conditions and achieving the goal.

 

The parents of both the students live in a slum in Surendragarh area and engaged in catering business. Swati and Kajal expressed their gratitude for their Science teacher saying latter’s inspiration and continuos support enabled them to work on the satellite. Both the students have set a good example to the society on how to achieve success in adverse conditions. Despite having limited equipment, these students have reached world records. Bisht expressed confidence that such stars from every school would leave their mark in space if adequate resources are made available in civic schools. Earlier, students of Surendragarh Vidyalaya had participated in Mangal Mission.

 

As a teacher, Bisht said she has always strived to hon the skills of students of civic school by telling them to aspire for ‘Local to Global’. Also it is her aim to international education ‘Global to Local’ for the students from poor economic strata. MLC Pravin Datke, Deputy Mayor Manisha Dhawde, Divya Dhurde, Whip, Prof Dilip Diwe, Chairperson, Education Committee, Pramod Tabhane, Deputy Chairperson, Nagesh Sahare, Deputy Chairperson, Health Committee, Sunil Agrawal, Pradip Pohane, Rajendra Sonkusare, all corporators, Preeti Mishrikotkar, Education Officer, Vinay Bagle, Chhaya Kaurase, Head Mistress, Surendragarh School, Kalpana Malve, teacher, were present.