IMPACT
Where Every Dream Gets A Chance
Juhi Chakraborty
At Adani Vidya Mandir Surguja, a 100% Class X result is more than an academic milestone. It is a story of children who overcame difficult circumstances, found confidence and began to imagine futures beyond their villages.
In Surguja, a district in Chhattisgarh known for its dense forests and mining landscape, education can open doors to new possibilities. For many children, Adani Vidya Mandir Surguja is their first opportunity to access formal education, build confidence and imagine a future beyond their villages.
Established in 2013, the school provides quality education to children from underserved communities, many of whom are first-generation learners with limited academic support at home. As on today, the total enrollment is 1004.
For the Class X batch of 2026, the school achieved a 100% pass result. This is the second time Class 10 has achieved 100% result. For these students and their families, it marks not just an academic milestone, but the possibility of higher education and new career paths.
Preparation began in Class IX with baseline assessments, individual learning targets and continuous monitoring. Teachers identified learning gaps and designed targeted interventions.
By August 2025, nearly 80% of the syllabus had been covered, allowing time for revision and practice. Worksheets, competency-based questions, peer learning, counselling and home visits strengthened students' preparation.
But the real measure of this achievement lies not in the percentage, but in the journeys of the children behind it.
Neha Kumari: Finding Her Way Back
For Neha Kumari, the pressure of Class X was accompanied by turmoil at home. With her father facing a departmental inquiry and the family's future uncertain, Neha, who was living with her aunt, began prioritising household responsibilities over her studies.
Her teachers saw the change and stepped in. Through counselling, home visits, regular follow-ups and academic support, they helped her overcome the guilt she carried and rebuild her confidence. Her aunt was also sensitised to the importance of Neha's education.
When Neha passed her board examination, she had achieved more than an academic milestone. She had found her confidence again.
Dhankunwar: Studying After the Day's Work
In her jungle village, Dhankunwar's day began at 5.30 am. Household chores came first, followed by school. Once home, she helped her family in the fields and cared for livestock. Electricity was unreliable and there was no connectivity for online learning.
Still, late in the evening, she opened her books.
Dhankunwar scored 52% in her board examination. It was a result that brought immense pride to her family and village. Her achievement showed that even when circumstances leave little time or space for study, determination, combined with the right support, can create a path forward.
Manjeet Sarthi: The Power of a Second Chance
Manjeet Sarthi had dropped out of school after Class VIII. Coming from a marginalised community, his future could easily have taken a very different course.
Adani Vidya Mandir gave him another chance. He returned to school and rediscovered his interest in studies, sports and music. Even while helping his family care for cattle, he continued to study. During the pandemic, offline learning material provided by the school helped him stay connected to his education.
He went on to score 70% in the CBSE board examination, turning a second chance into a new beginning.
Amisha Porte: Carrying a Family's Hopes
Amisha Porte grew up in a large family with six siblings. Her father, Thakur Ram Porte, is a farmer who also works at the mines, while her mother, Phool Sundari, works as an Anganwadi Sahayika.
Her day began with household chores and helping her parents, followed by caring for her younger siblings. Studying had to find its place around these responsibilities.
With support from her teachers, Amisha persevered and scored 71% in Class X. Her achievement offered more than personal satisfaction. It showed her family what education could make possible for the next generation.
Pushpa Thakur: Looking Beyond What She Inherited
Pushpa Thakur, now in Class XI, comes from a landless family with limited means. Her father, Lakshmi Narayan Thakur, works as a barber, the traditional occupation of the Thakur community in the region, while her mother, Sangeeta Thakur, supports the family. Pushpa has two sisters and a brother.
With an annual family income of around INR 240,000, higher education and wider opportunities could easily have remained distant aspirations.
Adani Vidya Mandir has helped change that equation. For Pushpa, school represents more than education. It represents the possibility of choosing a future rather than simply inheriting one.
These five journeys give meaning to the school's 100% result. Neha found her confidence, Dhankunwar studied despite the weight of daily responsibilities, Manjeet found a second chance, Amisha turned family responsibilities into determination, and Pushpa began looking beyond the boundaries of her circumstances.
Behind every successful student is a story of someone who refused to give up, and someone who refused to give up on them. At Adani Vidya Mandir Surguja, that belief is becoming a pathway to a different future.
With inputs from Glory Dwarkesh, Adani Foundation