VIZIANAGARAM: In a commendable effort to boost school enrolment among underprivileged children and prevent dropouts, government teachers in Vizianagaram district have gone beyond their professional duties to support tribal students by arranging free transportation. Spending from their own salaries, they have ensured that children from remote hamlets can attend school, significantly reducing absenteeism and dropout rates in region.
At Mandal Parishad Primary (MPP) School in Kapusompuram village under Kiltampalem Gram Panchayat, 55 students are enrolled, including 16 from hilltop hamlets Rayapalem, Munupurai and Ippamanuvalasa, located up to six kilometres away, and 15 from Dabbagunta, 2.5 kilometres away. Until recently, these 31 children rarely attended classes due to the long walk and lack of public transport. To address this, the school’s four teachers pooled resources to hire auto-rickshaws, spending Rs 5,000 monthly for one vehicle serving the hilltop villages and Rs 4,500 for another covering Dabbagunta. Together, they share the Rs 9,500 monthly cost, ensuring safe daily transport for the children.
In another initiative, Indukuri Ashok Raju, Headmaster of Mandal Parishad Upper Primary (MPUP) School at Tennuboddavara village under Mulaboddavara Gram Panchayat, has been spending Rs 2,000 monthly from his salary to provide transport for students from Mulaboddavara and Lacchandorapalem.
He said the school’s strength rose from 65 to 83 after the facility was introduced, enabling regular attendance. He appealed to villagers to donate land for a high school, noting the children’s talent and potential.
At Mandal Parishad Primary School in Devupalli under Bondapalli mandal, Headmaster Srinivasa Rao personally rides his two-wheeler to Gudem, a tribal hamlet four kilometres away, each morning to pick up students and drop them back after classes. District Collector Ram Sundar Reddy commended his dedication, describing it as an inspiring example of service.
Similarly, at Zilla Parishad High School in Velagavalasa under Therlam mandal, Headmaster R Bangari Naidu has taken responsibility for transporting a Class VI student, S Yashasri, from Rangappavalasa village, a kilometre away. Despite his busy schedule, he ensures she reaches school daily, underscoring the commitment of teachers to their students’ education.
Kapusompuram MPP School Secondary Grade Teacher Kondalarao said, “There were only 29 students when I joined. Children from Rayapalem, Munupurai, Ippamanuvalasa and Dabbagunta could not attend due to a lack of transport.
After arranging two auto-rickshaws, 31 children from these villages now attend regularly.” He added, “We spend Rs 9,500 every month to ensure safe travel. It gives us immense satisfaction to help tribal children continue their education. During rainy season, kachha roads become difficult, and we remain anxious until every child reaches home safely. I appeal to the government to provide proper roads.”
Headmaster Ashok Raju of Tennuboddavara MPUP School said, “Students from Mulaboddavara and Lacchandorapalem struggled to attend regularly. I arranged a private auto-rickshaw by spending Rs 2,000 monthly. Now enrolment has increased, and we hope to upgrade the school into a high school.”
Hasini, a Class VII student, said, “We thank the government for facilities like digital classrooms, smart Televisions’s and mid-day meals. But without transport, we struggled to attend. Our headmaster has been arranging an auto-rickshaw from his salary. I thank him for ensuring we can attend school every day.”
These teachers’ extraordinary commitment highlights the challenges faced by tribal students in remote areas and underscores the need for better road connectivity and government-supported transport facilities. Their efforts have not only improved attendance but also strengthened the community’s faith in public education, proving that dedication and compassion can bridge gaps where infrastructure falls short.