Sakuntala hails from a family of most backward class even among the tribes in Purulia. Her family, consisting of 6 members resides in a self owned small hut in a hamlet known as Gagda in Puncha Block, Purulia, West Bengal. Her father has no regular work and the family lives on whatever he manages doing odd jobs. Her mother is the Pradhan of their Gram Panchayat.

Sakunala used to study in Delong Deul Madhyamik Siksha Kendra (MSK) earlier. Sakuntala has avid interest in studies but the standard of teaching in her previous school was poor. Looking at her potential, she was mainstreamed in Puncha Girls’ High School where she has got the hostel facility and access to proper care and guidance. After entering into the new school she has appeared for three term exams and her total percentage of marks in consecutive terms are 19%, 18% and 67.5% respectively which shows her rapid improvement. She dreams of building her own career as a school teacher.