#20180401 - BE 2nd year mech engineering student from Vellore

The son of a family of weavers in Vellore district, this student is a first-generation learner aspiring to become an engineer.

He is now entering the second year of a B.E. Mechanical Engineering course from a college in the western suburbs of Chennai. He scored an average of 76% in the Class XII examinations and has obtained a GPA of 7.44 in the first year of engineering. He completed his schooling in a government-aided institution in Vellore.

His father and mother, who are daily wage weavers, earn up to Rs. 6,000 per month. The student's younger brother has just completed Class X and is awaiting his results. The family lives in Vellore in a small house without a toilet nor do they have a land deed, although the house is their own. The student resides in the college hostel.

The first-year fee of Rs. 1.28 lakh and hostel deposit of Rs. 10,000 was paid with the help of a bank loan. The college has waived Rs. 20,000 in its fee as part of the government's first graduate in a family scheme. The bank loan is for Rs. 3 lakh, issued in instalments over the duration of the course.

The student has sought Aalayam's help to meet the second-year expenses not covered by the bank loan and family contribution. His father has undergone two hernia surgeries and is unable to raise extra funds. After various levels of review, Aalayam has agreed to raise Rs. 48,000 to help the student.