Meet Sheikh Sarfaraz: Boy Who Earned Rs 300 Per Day By Carrying Bricks, Studied During Nights, Cracked NEET With Impressive Score Of...
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Compelled to work as a daily wage labourer to support his family, a young man from West Bengal has overcome all odds to clear the NEET UG 2024 exam, securing an impressive score of 677 out of 720. Supported his family
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Sheikh Sarfaraz's journey inspires and deeply moves thousands of aspirants. Coming from a marginalised background, he worked as a labourer during the day and studied at night to chase his dream. The 22-year-old once carried bricks in the morning to support his family, dedicating his nights to studies — a powerful example of determination and resilience. Use to carry 300 to 400 bricks each day
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He comes from West Bengal and was born into a marginalised family. His father earns a living as a daily wage labourer. Due to the family's poor financial condition, he also began working — carrying 300 to 400 bricks each day and earning Rs 300 daily to support the household. Studying at night through online classes
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After finishing his daily work, Sarfaraz would dedicate his nights to studying through online classes. His dream was to become a doctor, and he worked hard every single day to make that dream a reality. Inspired to join NDA
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According to Sarfaraz, his mother played a significant role in his success, often staying up all night by his side while he studied. After completing Class 10, Sarfaraz initially aspired to join the NDA, but due to his family's financial situation, he had to let go of that dream. Covid-19 pandemic
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During the Covid-19 pandemic, he received a phone through government support and began attending online classes for his studies. Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College
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In 2024, Sarfaraz appeared for his second attempt at the NEET UG exam and achieved success. He secured admission to the prestigious Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College in Kolkata. His journey serves as a powerful inspiration for all aspirants who believe that limited resources can hold them back from achieving their dreams.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Left in the dark: Western UP's migrant workers lose light, faith with unmaintained solar panels
In a dusty brick kiln colony on the outskirts of Aligarh , 32-year-old migrant worker Kamal Singh stands beside a lifeless solar panel mounted on his hut. "Yeh toh roshni ka sahara tha. Par ab pehle jaise nahi chalta. (This was our source of light. But now it doesn't work like before," he said. Once a symbol of self-reliance that lit up his hut and powered a fan through scorching summers, the panel is now coated in grime, barely functioning - a casualty of lack of maintenance, guidance and rising air pollution. As India expands its renewable energy footprint, stories like Kamal have revealed a troubling gap between solar adoption and solar maintenance. Many migrant workers across the dusty interiors of western Uttar Pradesh - Hathras, Bulandshahr, Aligarh - embraced solar as a lifeline to meet their energy needs but are now finding themselves disillusioned. Some even pooled money to install small solar panels on their huts using their savings from months of labour under the sun and for a while, it even worked: two bulbs lit up their rooms, a fan offered respite from the heat, and mobile phones stayed charged. But today, the lights flicker weakly and the fan barely moves. "We don't know what went wrong. When we took it to the shop, they said dust had accumulated on it. Then we cleaned it properly with a cloth, but it's still not working like before," said Kamal's wife, Rashmi. Neeraj Jain, director at Solar Square, an Indian company focused on residential solar energy solutions, pointed out that cleaning must be done gently and correctly. "Leaning or scrubbing too hard can cause micro-cracks or damage the anti-reflective coating, which significantly reduces the panel's lifespan," he cautioned. But this knowledge hasn't reached the brick kiln workers of western Uttar Pradesh, who often rely on second-hand information or trial-and-error methods. With little formal training and no local technicians to guide them, families clean panels with the same cloth and phenyl solution they use to mop floors or dust it the way they do dusting at home. Some lean directly on the glass surface while scrubbing, unaware they may be damaging the very panels they depend on for electricity. In these informal settlements, where electricity theft, outages, and diesel costs once made solar seem like a breakthrough, the lack of aftercare and support has quickly turned innovation into frustration. "I saved Rs 3,000 on electricity last year. But now, the panel stopped working properly. No one ever told us how to take care of it," said Kishore Kumar, a migrant construction worker in Nanau village. Others tell similar stories. "We bought it thinking it would help during nights as we were either dependent on oil lamps or pilfering electricity, but it became more headache than help," said Sangeeta, who migrated from Bihar's Gaya to work in a brick kiln in Nanau village of Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district. Experts agree that while solar systems are marketed as low-maintenance, they are not maintenance-free. "Within 90 days, performance drops by up to 35 per cent if not cleaned," said Jain. "In rural, off-grid areas, the panels often face poor air quality, dust, bird droppings, and no guidance on upkeep. After a year or two, many just abandon them," he added. Shopkeepers in surrounding areas like Pilakhana and Bijauli also report declining use. "Earlier, families came to us to buy DC fans and LED bulbs for their solar setups," said Virendra Singh , who owns a shop in Pilakhana. "Now some of them come asking for kerosene lamps again." The problem isn't the technology but the lack of education and support. Like Jain said that solar panels do not need complicated maintenance. "But users must know not to rub too hard, not to use saltwater, and to avoid leaning on them. Even small cracks or residue can ruin them," Jain said. When PTI reached out to the shops selling solar panels, the shopkeepers said that they themselves are not sure how to ensure effective maintenance and just tell the people to wipe it properly with wet and dry cloth. "Like we do dusting at home," said a shopkeeper in Bulandshahr. Air pollution is further making the situation worse. "In Delhi and surrounding regions, performance falls by at least 15' 20% during peak pollution. And this isn't just about fog'¦it's the dust, the particulates, everything in the air that blocks sunlight," said Jain. Researchers at IIT Delhi's Centre for Atmospheric Sciences (2001- 2018) found that particulate pollution reduces direct sunlight radiation (called atmospheric attenuation) and causes soiling (i.e. particle deposition). As a result, solar panel efficiency in India declines by approximately 12 per cent for fixed panels and up to 41 per cent for dual-axis tracking systems. In the eastern and northern power grids, reductions in received sunlight range from 12- 16 per cent. For families relying on solar for basic needs - charging a phone, running a light or fan - such a drop makes a system nearly unusable. Indrajit Singh, Managing Director of the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), acknowledged the issue. "We've focused on expanding solar access, but now we are scaling up training and 30,000 Surya Mitras are being trained in UP for installation and maintenance," he said. "We've also started pilot programs with women's self-help groups in rural areas to take on local repair and upkeep," he said. So far, over 5,000 individuals have been trained and 3,000 vendors registered, according to Singh. But such programs are yet to reach the migrant belts of western UP in any meaningful way. India is home to over 450 million internal migrants, according to the 2011 Census, with current estimates by independent researchers suggesting the number could now exceed 600 million, as many move in search of work, education, or better living conditions. Among them, Uttar Pradesh is both a major sending and receiving state, with millions of migrant workers moving seasonally between states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. For these workers, access to reliable and affordable energy is not a luxury - it is essential for their empowerment, said Nirmal Gorana, convenor of the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour, who has extensively documented labour conditions in kilns. But without basic maintenance support, even this modest progress begins to unravel. "We turned to solar with hope and invested our hard-earned savings in it. To buy this panel, we made sacrifices' whether it meant cutting back on better food, medicine, or even sending money home. So when the panel stops working, it isn't just a financial loss' it shatters our trust in the system," said Kamal.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
Left in the dark: Western UP's migrant workers lose light, faith with unmaintained solar panels
Once a symbol of self-reliance that lit up his hut and powered a fan through scorching summers, the panel is now coated in grime, barely functioning — a casualty of lack of maintenance, guidance and rising air pollution. 'Yeh toh roshni ka sahara tha. Par ab pehle jaise nahi chalta. (This was our source of light. But now it doesn't work like before,' he said. Aligarh/Bulandshahr, Aug 17 (PTI) In a dusty brick kiln colony on the outskirts of Aligarh, 32-year-old migrant worker Kamal Singh stands beside a lifeless solar panel mounted on his hut. As India expands its renewable energy footprint, stories like Kamal have revealed a troubling gap between solar adoption and solar maintenance. Many migrant workers across the dusty interiors of western Uttar Pradesh — Hathras, Bulandshahr, Aligarh — embraced solar as a lifeline to meet their energy needs but are now finding themselves disillusioned. Some even pooled money to install small solar panels on their huts using their savings from months of labour under the sun and for a while, it even worked: two bulbs lit up their rooms, a fan offered respite from the heat, and mobile phones stayed charged. But today, the lights flicker weakly and the fan barely moves. 'We don't know what went wrong. When we took it to the shop, they said dust had accumulated on it. Then we cleaned it properly with a cloth, but it's still not working like before,' said Kamal's wife, Rashmi. Neeraj Jain, director at Solar Square, an Indian company focused on residential solar energy solutions, pointed out that cleaning must be done gently and correctly. 'Leaning or scrubbing too hard can cause micro-cracks or damage the anti-reflective coating, which significantly reduces the panel's lifespan,' he cautioned. But this knowledge hasn't reached the brick kiln workers of western Uttar Pradesh, who often rely on second-hand information or trial-and-error methods. With little formal training and no local technicians to guide them, families clean panels with the same cloth and phenyl solution they use to mop floors or dust it the way they do dusting at home. Some lean directly on the glass surface while scrubbing, unaware they may be damaging the very panels they depend on for electricity. In these informal settlements, where electricity theft, outages, and diesel costs once made solar seem like a breakthrough, the lack of aftercare and support has quickly turned innovation into frustration. 'I saved Rs 3,000 on electricity last year. But now, the panel stopped working properly. No one ever told us how to take care of it,' said Kishore Kumar, a migrant construction worker in Nanau village. Others tell similar stories. 'We bought it thinking it would help during nights as we were either dependent on oil lamps or pilfering electricity, but it became more headache than help,' said Sangeeta, who migrated from Bihar's Gaya to work in a brick kiln in Nanau village of Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district. Experts agree that while solar systems are marketed as low-maintenance, they are not maintenance-free. 'Within 90 days, performance drops by up to 35 per cent if not cleaned,' said Jain. 'In rural, off-grid areas, the panels often face poor air quality, dust, bird droppings, and no guidance on upkeep. After a year or two, many just abandon them,' he added. Shopkeepers in surrounding areas like Pilakhana and Bijauli also report declining use. 'Earlier, families came to us to buy DC fans and LED bulbs for their solar setups,' said Virendra Singh, who owns a shop in Pilakhana. 'Now some of them come asking for kerosene lamps again.' The problem isn't the technology but the lack of education and support. Like Jain said that solar panels do not need complicated maintenance. 'But users must know not to rub too hard, not to use saltwater, and to avoid leaning on them. Even small cracks or residue can ruin them,' Jain said. When PTI reached out to the shops selling solar panels, the shopkeepers said that they themselves are not sure how to ensure effective maintenance and just tell the people to wipe it properly with wet and dry cloth. 'Like we do dusting at home,' said a shopkeeper in Bulandshahr. Air pollution is further making the situation worse. 'In Delhi and surrounding regions, performance falls by at least 15'20% during peak pollution. And this isn't just about fog'¦it's the dust, the particulates, everything in the air that blocks sunlight,' said Jain. Researchers at IIT Delhi's Centre for Atmospheric Sciences (2001-2018) found that particulate pollution reduces direct sunlight radiation (called atmospheric attenuation) and causes soiling (i.e. particle deposition). As a result, solar panel efficiency in India declines by approximately 12 per cent for fixed panels and up to 41 per cent for dual-axis tracking systems. In the eastern and northern power grids, reductions in received sunlight range from 12-16 per cent. For families relying on solar for basic needs — charging a phone, running a light or fan — such a drop makes a system nearly unusable. Indrajit Singh, Managing Director of the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), acknowledged the issue. 'We've focused on expanding solar access, but now we are scaling up training and 30,000 Surya Mitras are being trained in UP for installation and maintenance,' he said. 'We've also started pilot programs with women's self-help groups in rural areas to take on local repair and upkeep,' he said. So far, over 5,000 individuals have been trained and 3,000 vendors registered, according to Singh. But such programs are yet to reach the migrant belts of western UP in any meaningful way. India is home to over 450 million internal migrants, according to the 2011 Census, with current estimates by independent researchers suggesting the number could now exceed 600 million, as many move in search of work, education, or better living conditions. Among them, Uttar Pradesh is both a major sending and receiving state, with millions of migrant workers moving seasonally between states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. For these workers, access to reliable and affordable energy is not a luxury — it is essential for their empowerment, said Nirmal Gorana, convenor of the National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour, who has extensively documented labour conditions in kilns. But without basic maintenance support, even this modest progress begins to unravel. 'We turned to solar with hope and invested our hard-earned savings in it. To buy this panel, we made sacrifices'whether it meant cutting back on better food, medicine, or even sending money home. So when the panel stops working, it isn't just a financial loss'it shatters our trust in the system,' said Kamal. (This content was developed and produced under an arrangement with Internews' Earth Journalism Network). PTI UZM NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
NEET UG West Bengal Counselling 2025: WBMCC revises provisional merit list & seat matrix for MBBS, BDS programmes
NEET UG West Bengal Counselling 2025: The West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee (WBMCC) has updated the provisional state merit list for the WB NEET UG counselling 2025, specifically for the 85 per cent state quota seats. A total of 11,178 candidates have been deemed eligible to participate in the first round of choice filling for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in government and private medical colleges across West Bengal. India's first MBBS batch graduated in 1839; here's how Britishers shaped medical education system Alongside this, the WBMCC has released the seat matrix for the academic year 2025–26, revealing a total of 5,589 seats available in MBBS and BDS programmes. The choice filling process has commenced, and candidates must lock their preferences by midnight on August 17 to secure their desired seats. Why Japan could be the next hotspot for Indian medical aspirants Step 1: Visit the official WBMCC website– Step 2: Select West Bengal NEET UG Counselling 2025 and enter your NEET UG roll number and the security pin to log in. Step 3: The dashboard will display the total number of seat options available based on your eligibility. Step 4: Fill in and arrange preferences from the available list. You can edit and rearrange the order of your choices as needed. Step 5: Once satisfied, lock your final choice list. After locking, no further changes can be made. Step 6: Download and save a copy of your submitted choices for future reference. According to the official schedule, the results for the West Bengal MBBS seat allotment 2025 will be declared on August 20, based on the preferences submitted by candidates during the choice filling process. Those allotted seats will need to report for admission between August 21 and 23, within the time window of 11 am to 4 pm. The registration for round 2 of counselling is set to begin on August 27. This round will be open to students who are either dissatisfied with their initial allotment or who did not register for the first round of state quota counselling.
