Odia Girl, Born without Right Hand, Triumphs into IIT Delhi

Odia Girl, Born without Right Hand, Triumphs into IIT Delhi

A quote by renowned  American journalist Susan L. Taylor says, “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.” Meet 17-year-old Sneha Behera from Arasa village in Rajkanika block, who has defied all odds to secure a seat in the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Born without the right hand, she achieved an impressive 113th rank in the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2023 under the PwD category. Despite facing challenges and snide remarks from villagers, Sneha, a farmer’s daughter, remained determined to pursue her dream of studying B Tech in electrical engineering. Her resilience and hard work paid off, propelling her towards success.

Sneha began her academic journey at Saraswati Sishu Mandir for her primary education. For her Class X education, she attended Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in Baro, Kendrapara district. Continuing her pursuit of knowledge, she completed her Plus Two science education at JNV Bundi in Rajasthan. Her father, Saroj Behera is a marginal farmer but was a constant companion and supporter. He ensured that he took care of Sneha’s needs so that she could reach for the skies. Finally, his hard work paid off.

Sneha firmly believes that with unwavering determination and relentless hard work, one can conquer any goal in life. Her father, Saroj, was overjoyed upon receiving the news of her admission, knowing he had done everything in his power to provide education for both his daughters. Recognizing her remarkable achievement, district collector Amrit Ruturaj extended his congratulations by presenting Sneha with a gift of Rs 30,000. Moreover, he assured her that the administration would continue supporting her in her pursuit of higher education.