A school dropout who earns around Rs 10,000 every month driving his e-rickshaw (toto) around Cooch Behar has been offering Madhyamik students free service, ferrying them to test centres in the town and back home.
Mohammad Mostafa holds up his own lack of education as an inspiration. “I had to leave studies when I was in Class IV. I feel disappointed at not being able to pass my secondary exams. That is why I have provided free ride to examinees,” said the 35-year-old youth.
“There are many students from poor families and struggle to pay transport costs to travel to exam centres and back,” said Mostafa.
He lives in the town with wife Shahena Biwi and their two children, making around Rs 10,000 a month running the toto at other times.
Shahena supports the gesture of her husband, who has put up a poster put up in front of his toto with the free service message for examinees and his phone number.
“It is true that our family runs on his earnings and that he would earn less during these (exam) days. But it gives us satisfaction that he is trying to do something for the society,” said Shahena.
On the first two days of the exams, Tuesday and Wednesday, Mostafa ferried around 20 students in batches to their exam centres each day.
“The free ride he is offering examinees is really praise-worthy,” said Ria Dutta, an examinee.
In Cooch Behar district, over 41,000 candidates are appearing for the Madhyamik this year.