VIJAYAWADA: Driven by concern for farmers’ survival, fear of worsening environmental damage and a desire to instil respect for agriculture in children, teacher Manoja Namburi has turned a small rural government school into a living green classroom.
Manoja, who teaches at the Primary School in Mangalapuram (Venkatapuram) of Vijayawada Rural mandal in NTR district, has created a thriving kitchen garden on campus. Since 2021, she has cultivated vegetables and fruits that support the mid-day meal programme and are shared with students, helping them develop healthy eating habits and a connection with nature.
“I fear a future where farmers may not survive and the environment continues to deteriorate. That is why I want children to understand and respect agriculture, develop a love for farming and grow up protecting the system that feeds the world,” she stated.
Her journey reflects resilience and determination. “In 2013, I underwent treatment for breast cancer. Even after recovery, I faced many challenges, but giving up was never an option,” she recalled.
Last year, school enrolment dropped to 14 students, putting the school at risk of closure. Manoja personally visited nearby villages and persuaded parents—including those with children in private schools—to shift them to the government school. She spends nearly Rs 4,000 every month on auto charges to transport students. Her efforts increased the school strength to 27.
Manoja has been selected for three DSCs. After being selected once again in 1996 in the non-local category, she joined as a teacher in 1997 in Visakhapatnam. In 2005, she was transferred to Agiripalli in Krishna district, where school strength was only 22. With her efforts, the strength rose to 115 within eight years.
A poet and writer, Manoja produces poems, novels and stories and works with NCERT, Samara Shiksha and other organisations.
She has consistently promoted kitchen gardening as a practical learning tool. Her work demonstrates a deep commitment to protecting agriculture and inspiring children to value the land and the people who cultivate it.
HRD Minister Nara Lokesh also recognised her efforts on X, appreciating her role in educating students about agricultural practices.