A 13-year-old girl from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has become the face of a growing debate over education access after a heartfelt appeal to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led to a viral moment.
On July 1, Pankhuri, a Class 7 student who had dropped out of school due to unpaid fees, approached CM Yogi Adityanath during a Janata Darbar held at the Gorakhnath Temple.
She pleaded for help to continue her education, saying her family couldn’t afford the fees. Moved by her courage, the CM assured her that her studies would not be interrupted.
He placed his hand on her head and directed officials to either waive the fees or arrange for government support.
“If the school does not waive the fees, the government will,” the CM had assured.
An image of the CM placing his hand on the bowed schoolgirl’s head went viral on social media, bringing Pankhuri into the spotlight. Yet, her path back to school was far from smooth.
Earlier, on July 5, when Pankhuri and her parents visited Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Pakkibagh, the school principal reportedly resisted the admission, questioning the family’s decision to go to the CM and warning that such cases could set a precedent. The refusal left the family shattered.
The school’s refusal drew sharp political reactions. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a betrayal of the BJP’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” promise.
In a post on X, Yadav said, “Those busy collecting donations can’t even waive a little girl’s school fee. This is the reality behind the BJP’s slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.’ We promise her education will not be stopped."
The same day, education department officials stepped in, with District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) Dr. Amarkant Singh directing the school to admit Pankhuri without delay. Although the Samajwadi Party offered to fund her education, her mother declined, reaffirming their trust in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s commitment, according to a News18 report.
On July 7, after four long months, Pankhuri finally walked back into her classroom. Her parents, Rajeev and Meenakshi, blessed her before she left home.
“I’m grateful to Maharaj ji (CM Yogi) for helping me return to school,” she said, smiling.
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