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The Subsidized Higher Primary School was the first school in Savannalu, a village in Karnataka and has changed generations through quality education. Here’s how you can help them continue their endeavours.
In Dakshin Kannada, the quaint village of Savannalu is nestled amidst greenery, where most of the residents work in agriculture. They enjoy a peaceful life away from the pollution and hustle and bustle of the city. Be that as it may, one of the prerequisites in this village, like any other, is a good school.
The nearest school for Savanulu children in the 1950s was 7 km away in Belthangadi. As transportation was difficult, a group of youths from the village got together, formed a trust, and built a school in the heart of Savanulu to give their children the gift of education in the year 1953.
The government-supported school has been run by the Sri Laxminarayana Education Trust for the past 69 years. Today the village has a state secondary school as well as another primary school.
Alumni say what has remained unchanged over the decades is the quality of education provided at Subsidized Senior Elementary School, Savanalo.
For nearly seven decades, there has been no school in this village. It was very difficult in those days to send children away to study. These trustees did a big thing by building this school. Generations have benefited thanks to them. “Students from here have gone on to achieve great things in life in various fields,” says Shekhar, an alumnus of the school and an advocate for the Supreme Court.
The difference school makes
This Kannada middle school teaches students from grades 1 to 7.
Ranganatha Rao, a resident of Savannalu says, “In the 1950s, the villagers wanted to take care of a good school. But there was no school at that time and the village was not developed. Even Pelthangady, the nearest town, was on its way to development. So they made an effort The trustees took a lot of effort, pooled their money, and built this from scratch. They started the school up to the fifth grade and gradually increased it up to the seventh grade.”
This school helped change the face of the village.
Thanks to the quality of education and the dedication of the teachers, the first school in Savannalu has helped graduate scholars, engineers, IAS officers, preachers, teachers etc., says Shekhar.
“This school was the biggest gift to our village, and it was started by our ancestors,” says Krishnappa Gowda, Chairman of the Trust. “My brothers are well educated and my children are lawyers thanks to this institution. Not all of us will simply go to a distant school because our parents cannot afford or arrange transportation.”
“For many families like ours, this has been a blessing. Being in the center of the village, children only walk to school. Children from poor families like ours have had a wonderful education.”
Alumni of the school make efforts to ensure that they keep up with the times. Along with a few NGOs, they contributed to a new building at the school, as well as renovations and repairs.
“I studied here for almost 15 years. It was very nice and I have such good memories associated with the school. The teachers were great and imparted a good education. The school also has a huge playground and the greenery around it is a plus,” says Nagaraj, Architect and graduate.
Even today, the school charges a small fee from its students. The government provides free food in the afternoon through the midday meal scheme.
Over the years, as the students grew stronger, the trust found it difficult to pay the increased expenses.
“Over the years, while the quality has remained the same, the expenses have increased. The government only pays teachers’ salaries and food. Maintenance, modernization, and newer equipment for students are leaving a hole in their pockets,” Rao adds.
The government pays two teachers, while the school needs more to handle seven classes.
“We need at least five more teachers, one for each class. We need to pay at least Rs 10,000 per teacher per month. Our trust is in dire need of funds. We want to continue running this school with the same quality,” adds Gowda.
The school needs at least 50,000 rupees per month for teachers’ salary.
To help them, you can donate to:
Account Name: Sri Laxminarayan Education Trust
Account number: 45150200000179
IFSC code: BARBOBELTHA
Bank of Baroda, Belthangady Branch
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