1. Rotary Club rescues MBBS student who was at sea.
Sameekshya Kandel passed School Leaving Certificate with 80 per cent marks from a
community school in Kaski. She completed her Plus Two from Barahi Higher Secondary School
in Malpatan, Pokhara, under a scholarship programme.
Kandel then wanted to pursue medicine, but poor financial condition of her family stood as a
stumbling block. She went to Kathmandu to prepare for MBBS entrance exam. But she could not
earn scholarship in her first attempt.
After returning to Pokhara, she enrolled in BSc Nursing course under scholarship provided by
Pokhara University. But her dream of becoming a doctor had not died yet.
After a year, Sameekshya quit her nursing studies. With her brother, she went to the capital again
and prepared for MBBS entrance. She was selected for BDS, but she did not want to pursue this
course again.
On her third attempt, Sameekshya got through the MBBS test conducted by the Ministry of
Education. Her happiness was short lived though. When she visited the medical college allocated
to her, the college asked her to deposit Rs 1.1 million. For Sameekshya, whose father Kamal
works as a hawker, the amount was impossible to pay. But for Sameekshya everything was not
over. The Rotary Club of Pokhara Fishtail just came in time as the savior.
Ramakant Baral, Chairman, Rotary Club of Pokhara Fishtail, said that the club has pledged to
provided Rs 1.5 lakh to Sameekshya in the first phase so that she could pursue her dream.
Fishtail Fund Rotary Club Coordinator Binod Koirala said that they had helped the girl as she
was not able to pursue her studies despite getting the scholarship. Sameekshya now will pursue
her studies at KIST College, Gwarko, Kathmandu. Koirala said that his club would give the fund
to Sameekshya on the basis of her grades. Sameekshya has committed to serving the country for
first five years after she completes her studies.
