Bihar girl makes it to NCERT school textbooks

Patna, Jan 22 : The success story of a teenage girl, living in a nondescript village of Bihar, getting educated by her own efforts while rearing honey bees for a livelihood, has found a place in a school textbook.

The story of Anita Kushwaha, the 17-year-old who lives in Muzaffarpur district, about 70 km from Patna has been published in the book published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

The chapter titled "Anita and the honey bees" in the class IV book describes Anita as 'Queen Bee'. Highlighting her struggle, the book mentions about Anita hailing from a modest background who was born in a poor family of agricultural labourers. Her parents were too poor to get her ambition of getting educated fulfilled.

"I wanted to study but my parents and relatives in my village did not encourage. I realised that I have to help out myself. I need to fund my studies myself. Today, I have found a place in the textbooks. I want to work for the cause of the deprived children so that they also make it to the headlines and textbooks," said Anita.

Anita came to the limelight in 2006 when Unicef chose her as one of the 'inspiring stories' for its girl stars campaign.

She was the youngest among the 15 girls who were selected for the Unicef campaign. Unicef then made a film on her and released books on her struggle for education and survival.

She was able to persuade her parents not to get her married at an early age. She decided to earn not only to fund her school studies but her higher studies also.

She has been doing some odd jobs to earn a livelihood and also assisting in the upcoming of children of poor families.

Anita has become a role model and a source of inspiration for many.

"Anita has set an example for all of us. She has made the district proud. She came from a very poor family and yet has become a success story. She is a source of inspiration for us," said Satyamev Amit, a student of class four.

Anita is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Arts (English) degree from a college in Muzaffarpur.

ANI