more-in It is going to be a novel experience for Jason, who has been admitted to the business administration course in Sathyabama University on full scholarship. Mr. Jason is the eldest of four siblings from Idinthakarai’s fishermen community and graduated from Class XII this year. He has set his goals already: to work in the Army. Would he consider UPSC? “Will that get me a job in the Army?” he asks. His mother rolls beedis for a living. Kannan (name changed) and his younger brother have been admitted to the master’s programme in biotechnology on scholarship. Kannan hopes to pursue research. “When I met the boys three years ago, they were alone at home. Their father is serving sentence for murdering their mother. The father had not seen his sons for 17 years and was suffering from depression. I took them to visit their father and he slowly recovered. He is likely to get out of prison on account of good conduct. I ensured that the boys continued their education,” said K.R. Raja, founder of the Madurai-based Global Network for Equality, which works with children of prisoners. The boys had taken the entrance exams at several institutions, but since Sathyabama offered full scholarship they opted for it. “With no family and no money to travel, it would be difficult for them to commute. At Sathyabama they will be living in the hostel inside the University premises,” Mr. Raja said. Kanimozhi (name changed) dreams of becoming a college teacher. The student of microbiology hails from Rameshwaram. Her father was jailed for being part of a group that killed a person in a fracas. Rati’s (name changed) story is a little different. After Rati’s brother-in-law murdered her sister, their parents had to take care of her three nieces.

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