DHARWAD: Carrying a box of sweets and an unshaken spirit, Shabana Noor Hasan Patasu — the Navalgund student who captured hearts by writing her SSLC exam hours after her father’s death — visited government offices on Monday to express heartfelt gratitude. She personally thanked District In-charge Minister Santosh Lad, MLC Salim Ahmed, MLA N.H. Konareddy, DC Divya Prabhu, and other officials at the Zilla Panchayat office in Dharwad.
Shabana, who scored 70% in her SSLC exam, is now preparing to join PU College. She also appealed for assistance with admission fees and hostel facilities to continue her studies without hindrance. Deeply moved, DC Divya Prabhu promised full support for Shabana’s higher education and help for her younger sisters.
A student of Government Urdu High School, Shabana chose courage over grief when she appeared for her exam on the morning of March 26 — just hours after her father’s sudden passing. That same day, DC Prabhu and MLA Konareddy visited her home, providing immediate aid and support.
Her mother was granted widow pension, a national family benefit scheme, and treatment for mental health. The MLA facilitated housing under the Ashraya scheme, sanctioned a plot, deposited ₹1 lakh, and began construction. The house is expected to be ready in two months. To ensure economic stability, the family has also been given 40 poultry birds under a livelihood initiative.
As the eldest of four sisters, Shabana’s perseverance lights the path for her entire family.