• Source:JND
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Despite driving a taxi in tribal areas to earn a living, Kiran Kurma, a woman from Reguntha village in the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district, never stopped dreaming of studying abroad. Following a spot decision by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, she will soon be headed to the UK to pursue her studies.

Having been awarded a Rs 40 lakh scholarship, Kurma is determined to utilise it for pursuing a one-year International Marketing Management course at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. By cracking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) she secured admission to the prestigious University. Her plan entails working in the UK for two years before returning to her homeland.

After obtaining her master's degree in Economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, Kurma began driving a taxi on the 140 km route from Reguntha to Sironcha in order to support herself financially. Now she is the owner of three taxis.

After traveling to Mumbai to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde and seek monetary assistance to fulfill her dream of studying abroad, Kurma initially hesitated but sought help from a friend. Upon reaching Vidhan Bhawan, she handed her application to the chief minister, who promptly contacted Sumant Bhanthe, the secretary of the social welfare department, through WhatsApp. With their support, Kurma was granted the scholarship and is now overjoyed as she prepares to embark on her study journey to the UK.

Kiran made the most of her spare time after her father resumed work, diligently preparing for entrance exams of foreign universities while working as a taxi driver during the day and dedicating her nights to study. She even extended her services by ferrying passengers on long journeys to places like Nagpur, located 300 km away, and other locations within Maharashtra.

Kiran's remarkable achievements did not go unnoticed, as she was honored with the title of the youngest female taxi driver in the Maoist-affected areas by the Noble World Records. Numerous NGOs and social organisations recognized her exceptional accomplishments, bestowing upon her a total of 18 awards. Moreover, she holds an impressive six records under her name.