NMDC’s ‘Choo Lo Aasmaan’ Helps Topper Aim For IIT : Dreams Take Flight From Dantewada

Ramshila Nag, 15, from Pondum village in Dantewada district, secured the top rank in the district and placed ninth in the entire state in the CG State Matriculation Examination. She now aims to crack the engineering entrance exam and secure admission to the Indian Institute of Technology, particularly IIT Madras.

“It is the happiest day of my life. I want to pursue Mathematics in Class 11 and clear the IIT entrance. Without NMDC’s support, this dream wouldn’t have been possible,” said Ramshila Nag.

Out of 600, Ramshila scored 587 marks, achieving a remarkable 97.83%. She is one of the top scorers of the Class 10 Board Examination conducted by the Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education. This year, the overall pass percentage stood at 76.53%, with 80.70% of girls passing the exam compared to 71.39% of boys.

Ramshila is a student of Choo Lo Aasmaan, a free residential coaching programme fully supported by NMDC under its CSR initiatives. Designed to impart regular education from classes 9th to 12th and simultaneously prepare students from underprivileged backgrounds for competitive exams like NEET and JEE Mains, the initiative has been a lifeline for many like Ramshila. “Coaching of this kind is often unaffordable for families like mine,” she added.

She comes from a humble background, with her father being a farmer and her mother a housewife. As the youngest of four siblings, she lives and studies at the Choo Lo Aasmaan residential school near Geedam. “I dedicate this success to my teachers, wardens, peers, and most importantly, my family and NMDC. Now, I believe that other girls from my village will also dare to dream,” she said.

Her breakthrough came when she enrolled in the NMDC’s “Choo Lo Aasmaan” CSR initiative. The school, established by NMDC’s under its CSR, aims to provide quality education to students from remote tribal belts. “When I got selected for Choo Lo Aasmaan in Class 9, I knew things would change. We get everything: books, coaching, even uniforms. My teachers believed in me from day one.” said Ramshila, speaking from the residential school where she lives and studies.

Operated in partnership with the district administration since 2011, the Choo Lo Aasmaan initiative admits 160 students each year (80 girls and 80 boys) offering them access to residential facilities, uniforms, academic support, and mentorship. To date, the programme has benefitted over 1000 students, with NMDC investing approximately Rs. 350 lakhs annually.

Another high achiever from the district, Vani Sahoo, also attributes her success to the same programme, proving how NMDC is truly changing the narrative of Dantewada.

Additionally, students of the Choo Lo Aasmaan initiative have delivered outstanding results, with a 100% success rate in both Class 10 and 12 board examinations. All top district performers are from this programme including Astha Verma and Niharika Poya who secured the third position in the district with an impressive 95.83%, followed by Tanu Sahoo in sixth place with 95.67%, and Reshma Baghel in seventh with 95.50%. Saraswati Nag ranked eighth with 94.83%, Tamanna Manavi ninth with 94.50%, and Geeta secured the tenth spot with 94.71%. Notably, eight students of Class 10 achieved a perfect score of 100 in Social Science showcasing the programme’s academic rigour.

“The story of Ramshila and others is not just one of academic excellence, it’s about what can happen when opportunity meets determination,” said Mr. P. Shyam, General Manager, CSR, NMDC. He added, “NMDC’s other initiatives like Balika Shiksha Yojana, Astha Gurukul, Saksham, and many more serve as a beacon of hope for students in Bastar Division of Chhattisgarh. These programs have changed the lives of many families and will continue to do so.”