Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 29: Many young people from north Karnataka have cut short their educational aspirations and become labourers in coastal Karnataka on account of penury. Buddanagouda Chandappa Akaragal (Shashikumar) from Badami tlauk, Bagalkot district, stands out as unique. Because, he is working not because he is deprived of education, but to be able to get educated.

Buddanagouda has been working here as an assistant mason since the last 45 days in order to put together Rs 60,000 that is needed to get admission into the BSc first year nursing course at Kumareshwar Medical College at Hangal, Bagalkot. He has already collected Rs 20,000 and is hopeful that by the time this college opens, he would be able to add Rs 10,000 more to his current savings.

Buddanagouda comes to Udupi whenever he has college holidays, without wasting time. He earns the money needed for his education and goes back home. He admits that after completing SSLC. He had met the cost of admission into PUC out of money he earned as a coolie.

"I dreamt of becoming a doctor. But because of coronavirus infection, I did not get free training for NEET examination. I got less marks. Therefore, I have dumped my desire to become a doctor. I have now decided to do a nursing course. As I need a lot of money for college fee, hostel expenses and to buy books, I have been working as a construction worker," he reveals.

The youth confesses that the economic condition of his family is bad, and his parents wait at the city bus stand to get hired by someone as coolies. "They have promised to extend whatever they could to help me to get educated. There are 20 more days before the college opens. By then I will earn whatever I can and go back," Buddanagouda, whose confidence in the face of adversities is commendable, says with a spark in his eyes.