A heartfelt plea by a Class 7 student in Uttar Pradesh for financial support to continue her education and pursue her dream of becoming an IAS officer has turned into a political controversy, highlighting the challenges faced by families in distress and raising questions about government commitments to education.
Pankhuri Tripathi, a bright young student from Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gorakhpur’s Pakkibag area, is determined to achieve her goal of becoming an IAS officer. However, her journey hit a major roadblock after her father, Rajiv Kumar Tripathi, suffered a severe leg injury in an accident and lost his job, leaving the family in financial hardship.
Seeking help, the Tripathi family approached Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his Janata Darbar on July 1. Pankhuri shared her situation and requested a school fee waiver. The Chief Minister, known for his roots in Gorakhpur and close ties to the community, reportedly assured her that her education would not be interrupted.
Despite the Chief Minister’s assurance, Pankhuri’s school – which is run by Vidya Bharati, the educational wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) – refused to waive her monthly tuition fee of ₹1,650, citing a lack of provisions for fee waivers. As of now, her unpaid dues have reached around ₹18,000.
Recounting the ordeal, Pankhuri said, “I met the Chief Minister and he assured me everything would be sorted. But when I returned to the school with my father, the management misbehaved with us and denied any possibility of a fee waiver. They said waiving fees for one student would open the floodgates and they wouldn’t be able to pay their staff.”
She added, “My father was heartbroken. No one had ever spoken to him like that. Still, I believe in the Chief Minister’s promise. I will study hard and become an IAS officer.”
The situation has caught the attention of Samajwadi Party leader and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who criticized the ruling BJP government over its handling of the case. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he said, “We promise that her education won’t stop. This is the reality behind BJP’s hollow slogans of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. We urge the BJP not to make false promises to children.”
Rajiv Tripathi, Pankhuri’s father, shared how the family’s struggles deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Before the pandemic, I worked out of state. But while at home during lockdown, I fell from the terrace and severely injured my leg. I lost my job. Both my children are in English-medium schools. My son is in Class 12 and my daughter in Class 7. With no income, I couldn’t afford both their fees. I decided to focus on my son’s education this year and withdraw my daughter. But then I thought of seeking help from the Chief Minister,” he said.
He further explained, “The Chief Minister responded immediately and directed officials to support my daughter. But the school management didn’t agree. They said if everyone asked for waivers, they’d have to shut the school. They behaved very rudely. Watching my daughter cry broke me.”
Despite Akhilesh Yadav’s public offer to fund Pankhuri’s education, Mr. Tripathi reiterated his trust in the state leadership. “We are closely connected with the Gorakhnath Math and Maharaj ji (Yogi Adityanath). We believe he will fulfill his word and help my daughter.”
NDTV reached out to the school authorities for comment, but they declined to speak on the issue. Meanwhile, an education department official confirmed that the state government has issued a communication to the school administration, and a positive resolution is expected soon.
This incident not only shines a spotlight on the personal resilience of a young girl but also underscores the larger debate about accessibility to education, the accountability of institutions, and the role of political will in supporting children’s dreams—especially when they come from vulnerable families.
