A 50-year-old labourer who worked for BMC’s sewerage department in B ward has cleared his SSC board exam with 57 per cent marks in his first attempt. Kunchikorve Mashanna Ramappa said he studied every day after his job, and got help from his family, children as well as his colleagues. He said he was happy that he scored 54 in English, a subject that he finds difficult. He now wants to pursue further studies and complete his graduation.

Ramappa decided to start studying three years ago and accordingly enrolled in Universal Night School in Dharavi for Std VIII. “When I was in Std IV, my father told me that my education was complete and that I would get a job easily. I joined the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation as a contract labourer in 1988 and finally got a permanent post in the sewerage department in 1996.”