From Grazing Goats to IIT: Telangana Girl Overcomes Odds to Crack JEE Exams, Gets Govt Support

In a remarkable tale of determination and resilience, Badavath Madhulatha, hailing from Rajanna Sircilla district in Telangana, has achieved a monumental feat by securing the 824th rank in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category in this year’s JEE examinations. Despite financial hardships and her father’s illness, Madhulatha’s dream of studying at IIT Patna is now within reach. Madhulatha, the daughter of a farm labourer, defied all odds to crack both the JEE Mains and Advanced exams. Her inspiring journey to academic success included studying amidst the pastoral backdrop of grazing goats.

Madhulatha’s journey to IIT isn’t without financial challenges. While she managed to secure her admission by paying a nominal fee of Rs 17,500, her family faces a daunting task to raise Rs 2.5 lakh required for tuition and other expenses to pursue BTech in Engineering Physics.

Despite these obstacles, Madhulatha’s determination and hard work have earned her a well-deserved place at IIT Patna. Her story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for many, proving that with perseverance and courage, one can overcome any adversity to achieve their dreams.

Madhulatha, who had been grazing goats in her village to support her family, came into the spotlight when the faculty of Tribal Welfare Junior College, where she completed her Class 12 studies, made an appeal for help as the deadline for fee payment approached on July 27.

Extending his congratulations, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy initiated steps to provide her with the necessary financial assistance. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he announced that the Tribal Welfare Department has disbursed the necessary funds for her education. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Madhulata will continue to excel academically and bring honor to Telangana.

Under the directives of the Tribal Welfare Commissioner, Madhulata had requested financial assistance totaling Rs 2,51,831. The state government responded by waiving Rs 1 lakh in tuition fees and allocating Rs 1,51,831 towards academic fees, hostel expenses, gymkhana fees, transportation, mess charges, laptop, and other associated costs.