Savitribai is from a village in Chhattisgarh. She got married at the age of 18 and had studied until Grade 9. A year after marriage, her daughter was born, and all her time went into childcare and household duties.

During the mobilization of Pratham’s Second Chance Program for the 2023-2024 batch, she expressed her desire to resume her studies. At the age of 35, she wanted to prepare for Grade 10 exams. Her motivation was her daughter, who coincidentally, was also in Grade 10.

Initially, Savitribai couldn’t attend classes regularly because she wanted to support her daughter as she prepared for the board exams. Her work in sewing, embroidery, and tailoring also consumed much of her time, as she was the sole earner for the family. However, with repeated encouragement from the faculty, she began attending classes. She started her day at 5am, finding time to study in between her household chores. After finishing her morning tasks, she attended classes from 10am to 2pm. Participating in group activities boosted her confidence, and she received significant learning support from her daughter, who constantly motivated her to study harder.

Savitribai scored 73.8% in Grade 10, becoming the top student in the program from the entire block. Her daughter scored 93% and was the class topper. It was a joint celebration at home.

Now, Savitribai aspires to complete Grade 12. “Everyone can study and complete their education at any age, and one should not let responsibilities or self-doubt hold them back,” she says.