It’s a Monday morning at RDT Kalyandurg Hospital. The corridors are filled with the steady hum of machines, the footsteps of patients, and the gentle voices of nurses guiding families. In the Pediatric OP, 22-year-old Dr. Shabana begins her day, listening closely to parents who arrive seeking comfort and answers.
For her, every consultation is a reminder of the long journey here, a journey that began in the same hospital where her mother, Umera Begum, has worked for the past 17 years. “This hospital and the people here inspired me to become a doctor,” Shabana says, looking around at the familiar walls.
Her mother, Umera, raised three daughters with determination and an unshakable belief in education. “Even after a long day at work, my mom would ask about our studies,” Shabana recalls. “She always said, ‘Stand on your own feet and know that you belong.’ That has stayed with me.”
This encouragement helped shape Shabana and her sisters into women who dared to dream. Her elder sister is now a nurse in Kurnool Government Hospital, while her younger sister is pursuing an Engineering degree. “My mother encouraged me to understand the importance of learning and hard work. She was the one who told me about the RDT CET Scholarship exam,” Shabana recalls.
“At first, I wasn’t sure which path to take,” Shabana admits. “The career counselling sessions under the RDT Special Education Programme helped me understand my strengths and options.” Shabana dedicated herself to studying and secured a scholarship under the programme, going on to study at Sri Chaitanya College, Vijayawada, while also, preparing diligently for medical entrance exams, with hard work and focus, earned her place in medical school. “It was hard being away from family sometimes, but my mother was always there, cheering me on,” she smiles.
Launched in 2004, the RDT Special Education Programme provides scholarships to meritorious students, enabling them to pursue intermediate education in reputed colleges and continue toward higher professional and technical courses. Since then, over 5,000 students have benefitted from the programme, many entering STEM fields such as medicine, engineering, and technology.
The programme has proudly supported 287 students to secure MBBS admissions across India, while 38 students have entered IITs to study B.Tech. Beyond these achievements, thousands of others have gone on to become engineers, teachers, pharmacists, scientists, and professionals across diverse sectors – a ripple effect of opportunity across generations.
Now back in her hometown, Shabana finds herself not only caring for patients but doing so in the very place where her mother has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades. Navigating complex cases and learning alongside senior doctors, she feels both the weight and pride of her journey.
Watching her daughter in action, Umera’s eyes shine with pride. “She’s returned to the hospital not just as my daughter but as a doctor, working by my side in the place where I have worked for 17 years. It makes me believe that every effort I made for my children’s education was worth it,” she says with a smile.
For Shabana, education is far more than academic success – it is a bridge to dreams and a spark for change. “RDT Special Education Scholarship has helped me in my path of becoming a medical professional, just like I wanted and I passionately believe that through this every child will have a chance to know their aspiration and work for it. I also think it is important to dream big and embrace every opportunity with hard work”, she says, greeting the next patient and blending into the bustling noise of the hospital on a Monday evening.
Text: Mathusree Menon
