You are never too late in life, proves 82 year old Kembi

Hailing from Padachikunnu Colony in Mananthavady, Kembi in Wayanad, kembi was the oldest among 2,993 other candidates who took Kerala State Literacy Mission’s (KSLM) literacy examination and cleared it.

Kembi, along with other candidates, who belong to the tribal settlements of Wayanad, Kerala, cleared the literacy exams conducted by the state agency as well, reports India Today.

Speaking to Edex Live, Kembi, who appeared in the second phase of tribal literacy project, says,“As a child, I was keen to study. But my parents never let me go to school.”

In her young age, Kembi used to work as a daily wage labourer. However, she never gave up on her interest towards studies. Years later, Kembi found another opportunity to study again when literacy pracharak Claramma VV and instructor Sunitha P approached her.

Sunitha motivated Kembi to write the exam when she and Claramma were campaigning across the state for KSLM’s total literacy programme for the tribal people.

The programme is conducted in association with the Department of Scheduled Tribes Development

Speaking about her two sons, who also work as daily wage labourers, Kembi says, “Both of them have gone to school and are literate. So, they would help me revise whatever was taught in the class.

My classmates would also help me out.” Kembi now wants to learn computers.With the recent examination in the state, the total numbers of tribal inmates who passed in the first and second phase organised by KSLM have risen to 7,302.