DC Pulwama felicitates tent-dwelling tribal girl for scoring over 92% in Class 12 exams without coaching

Pulwama: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Dr Basharat Qayoom, on Friday felicitated Shabnum Sadiq, a tribal girl from the remote Paner area of Tral, for her remarkable academic achievement in the Class 12 examinations. Despite living in a polythene tent amid challenging conditions, Shabnum secured an impressive 463 marks—over 92%—without any coaching or external help.
Hailing from a marginalised tribal community and facing daily hardships such as long walks to school and extreme weather, Shabnum’s determination has made her a symbol of hope for underprivileged students, especially girls. Her story has earned praise from officials, educators and civil society members across the region.
During the felicitation, DC Pulwama said her success highlights the hidden potential within remote and disadvantaged communities. “Shabnum has set a powerful example. Despite lacking resources, she has achieved excellence through sheer hard work and dedication,” he said.
Shabnum, who aspires to become an IAS officer, expressed her desire to contribute to the development of her area, which still faces infrastructural challenges like poor road connectivity and inadequate educational facilities. “I want to clear the UPSC exams to bring positive change to our community so that no child has to struggle the way I did,” she said.
She shared that meeting the Deputy Commissioner, an IAS officer himself, made her feel even more motivated and closer to her goal. “I will work hard and do my best to crack the UPSC exam and serve my people,” she added.
Recognising her exceptional achievement and determination, the Deputy Commissioner presented her with a cash prize of Rs 50,000. He assured continuous support for her future endeavours and reiterated the district administration’s commitment to improving educational standards in tribal areas.
Dr Qayoom acknowledged the connectivity and infrastructure issues faced by residents of Paner. He assured them that their concerns regarding road construction and infrastructure development would be addressed as a priority