Smruthi D
Passed Public Examination with 92%
Anandashrama High School
Kotekar, Mangalore
June 29, 2013

Smruthi D, a student of Anandashrama High School Kotekar, Mangalore has scored a brilliant score of 92% in the recent Public Examination. With this Smruthi D has made her school and more importantly her mother proud.  Her mother says, "I got married at an early age and couldn't continue my education, Smruthi will make my dreams come true." This Grade 10, student wants to become a doctor and has already started charting out her plans. She says, "My neighbour is pursuing medicine, I will take guidance from her and work hard to reach my goal." 

Shruthi Smruthi's school is situated in a rural area about 12 kilometres away from the Mangalore city. She says, "My home is in the state of Kerala, while my school was in Karnataka, this is because of the border that separates the two states. I had to rely on bus service run by private operators, to come to school. Sometimes if I would miss a bus, I would be late to school. The problem worsens in the monsoons."
Smruthi says, "I could have scored even better hadn't I fallen sick during my mathematics exams." Her mother adds, "We had almost given up hope. In spite of being so unwell, she wrote the exam and scored 87 marks. This is extremely satisfying." Apart from being interested in studies, Smruthi is a sports enthusiast, she loves to play kho-kho and throw ball." Her interest also lies in dancing. Though she has not received any formal training in dance, she loves to participate in folk dance performances.

Smruthi loves the mid-day meal and says, "I like the curd-based menu the best. I eagerly wait for them. At home it is Kerala cuisine and at school the mid-day meal is Karnataka cuisine and I enjoy both."   Her mother rolls beedi to supplement the family income. She says, "I earn about Rs. 600 a week, and my husband is a driver. So my earnings help." With a smile she says, "Just like how my earnings help my family, the mid-day meal provided by Akshaya Patra helps our children."

Akshaya Patra feels proud and humbled at the success of its beneficiaries and wishes them a bright future.