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Saturday May 12 2007 11:15 IST
NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
KHAMMAM: Remote Kothulagutta in Kunavaram mandal of Khammam district is home to a silent transformation these days. In this remote hamlet, a bridge school, being run by Seva Bharathi, is changing the lives of tribal kids.
It is not just education that is being given. The Kondareddy children are being taught self-respect, to be proud of their culture and their role in the society. Games, sports, group discussions, meditation and yoga are moulding these boys.
Eleven-year-old Bogga Rajesh, who till the other day herded cows, today talks of how important it is to be to get educated. He talks of citizen’s responsibilities.
Payam Ravikumar of Pedda Arkur was a domestic help before being admitted to the Seva Bharathi-run bridge school. Today, he is proud to be a student.
Eighty-three such students belonging to 20 tribal villages, who had never been to school, were identified by Seva Bharathi activists, who fanned out into the village, and are being given education since December 2006. Four teacher-cum-caretakers are teaching the students. The students are also being provided with food, clothes and boarding free of cost.
"We are also focussing on inculcating a spirit of patriotism among the students so that they could become responsible citizens in the future," said Seva Bharathi district coordinator Avula Subba Rao.
The Seva Bharathi has already mainstreamed over 1,100 tribal boys in a similar bridge school at VR Puram, he said.
