Teacher

While there is no upper age limit for applicants, they must be above 17 years of age. CTET has two papers - Paper 1 for teachers who wish to teach grades 1 to 5 and Paper 2 for grades 6 to 8.

“For six years, I have observed them first-hand, and I am happy that many others will now read their story and be inspired.”

Despite receiving a hefty pension of Rs 50,000 per month, Chitralekha Mallik commutes by bus and refuses to hire domestic help to save every penny for the betterment of education.

“I could not understand anything there since the classes were all in English and I completed my education from a Kannada medium background.”

The couple had already been planning to buy a plot of land near Nanital, and saw this method of reusing plastic waste as a means to make a real difference.

“We were four siblings and making ends meet with my father’s salary was not at all easy. I studied in a school that was around 15 km away from my home and travelled everyday by various modes; which included walking.”

As you walk into the school, the entryway is filled with posters and bright charts espousing the virtues of sustainable development and Swachh Bharat. The school also has also withdrawn dustbins from classrooms to help students be mindful of the waste they generate.

“My family supported me throughout my journey. So much so that my sister would not watch any television only so that I could concentrate and not get distracted,” the topper shares.

“I was 23 and believed that the UPSC examination was for others who were serious academics. I always thought that I wouldn’t be able to clear it. Looking back, I regret not having adequate information because if I did, I would not have waited until I was 28 for my first attempt,” she says.

She was not allowed to participate in several rituals at his brother's wedding, simply because she was a widow. Not wanting the same to happen to any other widow in India, Amit founded an organisation called Mitti Ke Rang.