Tea Stall Worker’s Daughter Cracks JEE, Gets Into IIT Bombay

Coming from a humble background, Yogeshwari Selvam, a student from a government higher secondary school in Padanthaal near Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, who got high rank in the JEE (Advanced) examination has got admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay in the aerospace engineering programme.
Yogeshwari’s works in a tea stall, and her mother is employed in a fireworks unit. Despite financial hardships, her family supported her education while also helping her two elder brothers complete their college studies.

Yogeshwari discovered her interest in aerospace engineering when she was in Class VII. Although she was not considered an outstanding student at the time, her curiosity and determination grew stronger over the years. It was only in Class XII, after attending a session under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme called Kalloori Kanavu, that she became aware of the JEE examination and the possibility of studying at IIT.

Yogeshwari prepared for JEE (Advanced) without the help of private coaching. She received support from various government programmes. She was one of the 230 students selected from government schools across the state for special coaching under the Naan Mudhalvan initiative.

The Tamil Nadu government’s Naan Mudhalvan scheme, provides guidance to Class 11, 12, and college students, and offers support to help them pursue higher education and job opportunities.

Yogeshwari also benefitted from attending the ‘Coffee with Collector’ programme in which Virudhunagar Collector V.P. Jeyaseelan interacted with students and encouraged them to aim higher. - TWL Bureau