At Nigagundi Ambedkar School, you will be greeted by vibrant, colorful walls, lavish infrastructure, lush trees and sprawling gardens, and a library full of picture books and audio-visual resources in English and Kannada alike. Today the school, located in Nidagundi taluk of Karnataka’s Vijayapur district, is far from what it used to be – dilapidated and without minimal facilities.
These remarkable improvements have boosted the enthusiasm of village children to go to school. As a result, student enrollment increased from 76 to 136.
So how did the change happen? For this we have to thank the efforts of 39-year-old Veeranna Madiwalar.
“It didn’t happen overnight. It was a gradual journey, and everyone played a part in it,” he says Uttam India. “Today, the school stands proudly, and students have a place where they truly enjoy studying.”
‘I want to give them what I don’t have’
Born and brought up in a small family in Karnataka’s Kaliwal village, Veeranna’s childhood was full of struggles, he says. “My parents were not financially stable for a long time. My father was a daily wage earner and worked hard, earning enough to put food on the table. ”
Veeranna says that even as his father struggled to make ends meet, it was very difficult to pay the school fees. His uncle is the one who helps him in his studies. “He saw in me a changemaker and an artist and wanted me to complete my education.”
One thing Veeranna is sure of as a student is that she wants to make education better for future generations.
“I also studied in a government school, and the infrastructure, teaching methods and school grounds were never perfect. I always dream of making a difference when I grow up,” he says.
“I remember being introduced to the world of Rabindranath Tagore by my uncle. His literature fascinated me and inspired me to write. He believed in me so much that even today it motivates me.
After completing his schooling, Veeranna had to fund his higher education.
“In 2001, I went to Kopla for higher education. For money, I worked as a daily wage earner at a construction site for several months,” he says.
After completing his Diploma in Education, he returned to his place Taluk. “I joined an NGO working for the revival of lakes and wildlife. “I used to earn Rs 750 by working there and saved money and was able to do my masters in English and Kannada,” he says.
In 2007, his dream of becoming a government school teacher came true.
It takes a village
“Before becoming the principal of Nidagundi Ambedkar School in 2016, I worked for four years. Until then, I had saved money and was financially balanced,” he says, adding that the crumbling buildings and lack of infrastructure reminded him of the condition of his own school. .
Using his own funds, he started small – first he planted a few trees across the campus, and started maintenance work on the structure. “But I knew I couldn’t raise the money to repair the school alone and needed more help.”
And so he used the power of social media to raise money. “I started posting pictures of the renovation of the school on Facebook. Word spread and surprisingly, many people came forward to help me,” he says.
Veeranna says he then built toilets for students and staff, and repaired old furniture and brought in new ones. “I used to stay at school after work hours to make this happen.”
Students also started helping in the maintenance of the school. “A brother from Mysuru donated around Rs 1.5 lakh for the school. Another person from Chanapatna has given a smart TV to the school,’ he said.
Due to the joint efforts of those people, the school is now in a good condition. “With the help of social media, I was able to get a good amount of donations, which helped build a language lab in the school. Students learn English and Kannada with the help of picture books and audio-visual resources,” he says.
‘I live my dream through my students’
As of 2016, the school had a low attendance rate of about 76 students. Since its conversion, enrollment has grown to 136, says Veeranna.
“The change is amazing,” says Suleman Shaikh, the school’s cluster resource person. “If you have seen the building in 2016, it was in a very sad state. I am one of the witnesses of the before and after of this school. It now has a shower room and proper living facilities.”
He adds, ‘When the school looks attractive, students want to come and study. Now there are kids here every morning, and we’ve seen an increase in attendance as well.”
Veeranna commented, “While I always wanted to improve schools in the village, I wanted to study mechanical engineering since childhood. I didn’t have the money to make that dream come true. However, one of my students recently completed his degree in mechanical engineering. This is my biggest win, and I am living my dreams through my students.
If you want to help Veeranna, you can contact her on 99721 20570
(Editing by Divya Sethu)