By Swati Sharma
Published: 19th January 2014 06:00 AM
P Vasundhara is a mother to many. The 55-year-old fulfilled
her wish of being a parent by starting a school in Hyderabad
to educate underprivileged children for free. | Photo/ R V K Rao
She may not have children of her own, but P Vasundhara is a mother to many. The 55-year-old fulfilled her wish of being a parent by starting a school in Hyderabad to educate underprivileged children for free.
Vasundhara came up with the idea while attending satsangs at the Nachiketa Tapovan Ashram. “After visiting Vaddera basti in Madhapur, Hyderabad, I realised children there did not get an opportunity to go to school,” says Vasundhara, founder of Nachiketa Tapovan Vidya Mandir.
The foundation of the school was laid in the late 90s on a plot of land owned by Vasundhara’s husband. “In 2004, we constructed the school building and from then on began functioning,” she says.
The Vidya Mandir has also put in place a novel initiative to recycle paper and plastic waste and in the process make a little money. “Under the project, we request people to collect plastic and paper waste such as cups, sheets, use-and-throw polythene bags and drop it at the Tapovan. We make around `16,000 to 18,000 per month just by selling 2,000kg of recycle material,” she says.
The student strength at the moment is 250 and classes are conducted till 10th grade. The school’s mission is to reach underprivileged city kids by involving them in creative projects while teaching them the core high school subjects. The children get free food, uniforms, books, and shoes. Many teachers here are IITians and all have volunteered to work.
“Many children who enrolled didn’t have basic education or ambitions. But now if you ask any child what they want to do, they all have goals and are working hard to achieve them,” she beams.
“In the last few years we have had a few students who cleared their Board exams with high scores and are now doing their intermediate,” she says. “There was Shiva who is now studying at Vignan Engineering College. Another student, Nagamani, wants to become an IAS officer,” she says, proudly.
With most of the children coming from slums, health care often emerges as a serious issue. “Every week, a free medical camp is conducted where doctors from top hospitals volunteer. Also, we provide food and milk for the children on a regular basis. The students are taught yoga and practice surya namaskara and meditation before class every morning,” says Vasundhra, who also runs a block printing unit from her home that provides employment to underprivileged women. The profits made by this unit are used to fund the school.
“The children are taught in English and are able to follow and respond well, be it in English or Telugu,” says Anuradha, a teacher.
Vasundhara emphasises the habit of saving money so that the children learn to plan for the future from an early age. “The students make a lot of craft items such as diyas, writing pads, paper bags, envelopes and rakhis for sale. Some percentage of money from these sales goes to the school and the remaining amount is deposited in the students’ individual account,” she says.
With enrollment increasing, Vasundhara has had to expand her premises. “I have asked for the government’s permission to construct one more floor, but we are still awaiting confirmation from their side,” she says.
Published: 19th January 2014 06:00 AM
P Vasundhara is a mother to many. The 55-year-old fulfilled
her wish of being a parent by starting a school in Hyderabad
to educate underprivileged children for free. | Photo/ R V K Rao
She may not have children of her own, but P Vasundhara is a mother to many. The 55-year-old fulfilled her wish of being a parent by starting a school in Hyderabad to educate underprivileged children for free.
Vasundhara came up with the idea while attending satsangs at the Nachiketa Tapovan Ashram. “After visiting Vaddera basti in Madhapur, Hyderabad, I realised children there did not get an opportunity to go to school,” says Vasundhara, founder of Nachiketa Tapovan Vidya Mandir.
The foundation of the school was laid in the late 90s on a plot of land owned by Vasundhara’s husband. “In 2004, we constructed the school building and from then on began functioning,” she says.
The Vidya Mandir has also put in place a novel initiative to recycle paper and plastic waste and in the process make a little money. “Under the project, we request people to collect plastic and paper waste such as cups, sheets, use-and-throw polythene bags and drop it at the Tapovan. We make around `16,000 to 18,000 per month just by selling 2,000kg of recycle material,” she says.
The student strength at the moment is 250 and classes are conducted till 10th grade. The school’s mission is to reach underprivileged city kids by involving them in creative projects while teaching them the core high school subjects. The children get free food, uniforms, books, and shoes. Many teachers here are IITians and all have volunteered to work.
“Many children who enrolled didn’t have basic education or ambitions. But now if you ask any child what they want to do, they all have goals and are working hard to achieve them,” she beams.
“In the last few years we have had a few students who cleared their Board exams with high scores and are now doing their intermediate,” she says. “There was Shiva who is now studying at Vignan Engineering College. Another student, Nagamani, wants to become an IAS officer,” she says, proudly.
With most of the children coming from slums, health care often emerges as a serious issue. “Every week, a free medical camp is conducted where doctors from top hospitals volunteer. Also, we provide food and milk for the children on a regular basis. The students are taught yoga and practice surya namaskara and meditation before class every morning,” says Vasundhra, who also runs a block printing unit from her home that provides employment to underprivileged women. The profits made by this unit are used to fund the school.
“The children are taught in English and are able to follow and respond well, be it in English or Telugu,” says Anuradha, a teacher.
Vasundhara emphasises the habit of saving money so that the children learn to plan for the future from an early age. “The students make a lot of craft items such as diyas, writing pads, paper bags, envelopes and rakhis for sale. Some percentage of money from these sales goes to the school and the remaining amount is deposited in the students’ individual account,” she says.
With enrollment increasing, Vasundhara has had to expand her premises. “I have asked for the government’s permission to construct one more floor, but we are still awaiting confirmation from their side,” she says.
Source: The New Indian Express
