They may become future tech innovators, but for now, a group of female engineering students in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, are working as janitors even cleaning their own college toilets to fund their education.
One of them is Vani (name changed), who must complete tasks like watering plants, cleaning, or helping in the kitchen before attending her 9 a.m. classes. These jobs help her cover hostel expenses, which her parents both daily wage workers struggle to afford. Now in her final year of BTech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the 21-year-old is determined to ease her family's burden.
Vani’s college reportedly has around a dozen girls from various engineering disciplines doing similar work to pursue their education.
“I understand my family’s financial constraints. I don't think there's any shame in doing work that helps support my education and reduces the pressure on my parents,” Vani told TOI.
Hailing from Bellamvaripalem in Guntur, Vani’s father earns about ₹700–₹800 a day, while her mother makes around ₹250. She began working during her third year after her parents had to borrow money just to pay her hostel fees.
Vani pays ₹37,500 annually for her hostel stay. Determined not to let her parents take on more debt, she approached the college management seeking work. “I didn’t want them borrowing again. I asked for any available job and never hesitated to clean restrooms we use them, so I saw it as keeping our own space clean,” she said. Vani works either early in the morning or after classes in the evening.
Her classmate, Sravya, shares a similar schedule. “We alternate between morning and evening shifts each week. It takes about two to three hours to finish our duties cleaning rooms, restrooms, gardening we handle everything alongside the support staff,” said the final-year AI student.
These girls also serve as caretakers waking up fellow students, serving meals, and performing other tasks around the hostel.
While they occasionally face resistance from seniors who question their authority, they see it as a minor challenge compared to the opportunity it gives them.
“My family already had ₹3 lakh in debt, so I had no choice but to take up these jobs,” said Aarti, a first-year engineering student from Kurnool. Raised by a single mother after her father passed away when she was in Class 9, Aarti is one of seven siblings who rely entirely on their mother’s income. She said her family is open to any support they can get.
The college principal shared that this initiative aims to build confidence and independence among students. “Every year, around 200 students apply for part-time work, but we only select 8 to 10 those who are truly in need and demonstrate a strong, determined mindset,” the principal said.
(Names have been changed to protect identities.)
[With TOI inputs]
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Vani’s college reportedly has around a dozen girls from various engineering disciplines doing similar work to pursue their education.
“I understand my family’s financial constraints. I don't think there's any shame in doing work that helps support my education and reduces the pressure on my parents,” Vani told TOI.
Hailing from Bellamvaripalem in Guntur, Vani’s father earns about ₹700–₹800 a day, while her mother makes around ₹250. She began working during her third year after her parents had to borrow money just to pay her hostel fees.
Vani pays ₹37,500 annually for her hostel stay. Determined not to let her parents take on more debt, she approached the college management seeking work. “I didn’t want them borrowing again. I asked for any available job and never hesitated to clean restrooms we use them, so I saw it as keeping our own space clean,” she said. Vani works either early in the morning or after classes in the evening.
Her classmate, Sravya, shares a similar schedule. “We alternate between morning and evening shifts each week. It takes about two to three hours to finish our duties cleaning rooms, restrooms, gardening we handle everything alongside the support staff,” said the final-year AI student.
These girls also serve as caretakers waking up fellow students, serving meals, and performing other tasks around the hostel.
While they occasionally face resistance from seniors who question their authority, they see it as a minor challenge compared to the opportunity it gives them.
“My family already had ₹3 lakh in debt, so I had no choice but to take up these jobs,” said Aarti, a first-year engineering student from Kurnool. Raised by a single mother after her father passed away when she was in Class 9, Aarti is one of seven siblings who rely entirely on their mother’s income. She said her family is open to any support they can get.
The college principal shared that this initiative aims to build confidence and independence among students. “Every year, around 200 students apply for part-time work, but we only select 8 to 10 those who are truly in need and demonstrate a strong, determined mindset,” the principal said.
(Names have been changed to protect identities.)
[With TOI inputs]
