Andhra girl, who escaped clutches of early marriage, tops intermediate exam

“From being forced into child marriage by her family and being rescued by district administration last year to topping the intermediate exams, she (Nirmala) has come a long way,” said an official statement.

Sharing the news on X, Ministry of Education, “Her aspiration to become an IPS officer showcases her dedication to social justice. Let’s celebrate her courage and wish her the best for her future pursuits!”

Congratulations to Ms. G. Nirmala from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), Kurnool, a residential girls’ school run by the Ministry of Education for the disadvantaged sections in India, for securing the top spot in the 1st Year Intermediate exam of Andhra Pradesh… pic.twitter.com/OVqEX0frQL

— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) April 13, 2024

Nirmala aspires to become an IPS officer and work towards abolishing child marriages.

Also read: Faced with forced child marriage, 13-year-old reaches out for help

An inspiration

Appreciating the success of Nirmala, Andhra Pradesh Education Minister, Botcha Satyanarayana called the feat a testament to the progress of the Andhra Pradesh government.

Further reiterating Chief Minister Jagan’s belief that “Eradication of poverty begins with education,” Satyanarayana wrote on X, “The AP govt has not only focused on improving infrastructure in Govt schools but also on creating an environment that fosters inspiration for learning among children. We are proud to see the positive impact of the changes made over the past five years.”

HCM Sri @ysjagan garu firmly believes that eradicating poverty begins with education. The AP govt has not only focused on improving infrastructure in Govt schools but also on creating an environment that fosters inspiration for learning among children. We are proud to see the… https://t.co/NJDCoUFK8K

— Botcha Satyanarayana (@BotchaBSN) April 13, 2024

IAS officer Hari Chandana too took to X, to congratulate Nirmala. Quoting Nelson Mandela, she wrote, “Inspiring to see the story of S Nirmala.”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which can change the 🌎
— Nelson Mandela

Inspiring to see the story of S. Nirmala👏💐#EducateGirls https://t.co/XkFAkXlAob

— Hari Chandana (@harichandanaias) April 13, 2024

According to a Lancet study from 2023, Andhra Pradesh topped in child marriages among the South Indian states.

The research indicated that more than one in four women in Andhra Pradesh got married before the age of 18.

Child marriages in India: AP has highest number of girls getting married before 18 in South India

(With PTI inputs)

(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)