Working as labourer and studying at night, Pulwama boy cracks NEET

SRINAGAR: A 19-year-old boy, working as a labourer during the day and self-studying at night has scored 601 marks out of 720 in the NEET exams.
Umer Ahmad Ganie, son of Ghulam Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Zagigam village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, is one of the students from the Kashmir Valley to become an inspiration for others after he qualified for the NEET.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Umar said that during the daytime, he was working as a labourer as the health condition of his father is not well. “So, I worked as a labourer and fulfilled the demands and needs of my family members,” he said.
“Due to the poor family background, the family responsibility fell upon my shoulders. That is why I started working as labourer since 10th class,” Umer said, adding, “I used to do various kinds of work and was earning bread and butter for my family. During the late night hours, I used to study on internet. I have never bought study material from the market.”
Umar has secured 601 marks out of 720 in the NEET exams and this was his second attempt. “I have completed my 12th class examination from the Mehjoor Memorial Government Higher Secondary School Pulwama and primary education from a government school at my native village,” he said.
Gulzar Ahmad Ganie, Umer’s brother, said when his brother was studying in the 11th standard, he used to go to a coaching centre in Pulwama. Due to the lack of financial support, he left the coaching centre after one month.
“He was working as a labourer, as was doing various kinds of work on a daily basis for supporting the family. During the late night hours, he was doing self-study,” Gulzar said.
His brother said Umar bought his smartphone in 12th class. For the subscription to the Physics Wallah channel for study purposes, he was earning this amount by himself and had to pay this fee to them through which he was studying at night.
“This is the first person from our village who has qualified for the NEET exams in our village. My brother has never visited Srinagar City,” he claimed.