Education
A saviour school for Assam’s displaced Bengali Muslim children
Musabirul Hoque, a social activist who represents Assam’s displaced Bengali Muslims, sets up a school for children of the community, giving them a fresh chance at life. Village Square does a recce.
Dreams of Forest Fringe Bodo kids
On the fringe of the Nameri National Park and Reserve Forest, an initiative is helping develop the education and dreams of Bodo tribal children. A self-sustaining model of school management, the initiative by Assam Investment Advisory Society (AIAS) with the Upendra Nath Brahma ME School provides high quality and holistic education to its children. On Children' s day photographer Vicky Roy shares the story of these children in their native Bodo Language.
Mandla makeover – How MP’s cyber crime hub became a literacy model
When 4,500 volunteers set out to transform Mandla in 2020, it was notorious for its low literacy rates and cyber fraud. It then became the first district in Madhya Pradesh to achieve 100 percent functional literacy.
Bihar’s STEM girls embrace coding to land lucrative jobs
School of Programming, a collaborative initiative of Project Potential and NavGurukul in Kishanganj, is empowering young women from rural Bihar with software coding skills, opening doors to aspirational careers and transforming their future.
Bihar’s viral teacher inspires millions with her learning methods
Khushboo Kumari, a 31-year-old government teacher from a small village in Bihar, is known for her creative teaching methods that have gone viral online. She shares her experience with Village Square.
Bamboo schools transform education for migrant workers’ kids in Punjab
Punjab’s eco-friendly bamboo schools address the pressing issue of migrant workers’ children missing out on education due to safety concerns and the lack of nearby institutions.
Educational society transforms lives in rural Uttar Pradesh
Educating girls empowers them. The Pardada Pardadi Educational Society is making a difference to the locals of Anupshahr by schooling girls from underprivileged backgrounds.
Education brings a ray of hope in Chhattisgarh’s red corridor
Schools in Sukma district in the red corridor of Chhattisgarh became nonfunctional due to Naxal insurgency. Now the district administration is making education available for everyone and successfully coaching students for professional courses.
Elders trade thumbprints for signatures in twilight of their lives
Bebe Bapu School in Punjab’s Bathinda district shows that education has no age limit as nearly 80 elders learn to read, sign their names and do basic maths under the guidance of a 28-year-old teacher.
Reel encounters with some special rural teachers
Over the years many filmmakers have paid tribute to the gurus in our lives by making films that depict the teacher-student relationship. Here are six such movies with rural stories that revolve around inspiring teachers.
Beacon of learning shines on through these teachers in Indian villages
A forest guard who doubles as an educator. A woman who trains others in tailoring. A ‘Dehati Madam’ who teaches English… Rural India is full of inspiring examples of teachers. This Teachers' Day we revisit some of these stories.
Odisha delivery agent seeks support to continue MBBS
Despite facing financial challenges, the determination of Hebal Pradhan, who hails from a remote village in Odisha, to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor has ignited a wave of support from his community, his medical college and well-wishers.
A Punjab college for girls where every student is a teacher
Baba Aya Singh Riarki College in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district stands as a beacon of empowerment, challenging stereotypes and showcasing how girls are capable of achieving remarkable feats.
From Mud-walls to Wilderness: Inside Kashmir’s Nature School
Concerned by the degradation of the natural environment and widespread lack of environmental awareness, a lawyer, launched Kashmir's first Nature School, aiming to produce future environmental stewards.
Tribal school in Bengal defies odds, nurtures cultural roots
Bangada Bidu Chandan Birda Garh in the Ajodhya Hills of Purulia boasts a zero percent dropout rate thanks to its priorities of making the education residential, focusing on teaching Santhali language and traditions.
It takes a village to raise a child
In the rural landscape of Punjab, children from different government schools gather in a village to participate in Bal Mela or children's fair, an initiative of teachers to promote the unseen talent in rural children.
Community transforms education in rural MP
Community-driven education initiatives spearheaded by Transform Rural India show a way and bring hope to remote rural locations in the country.
This hidden library in Spiti is a book lover’s paradise
When Takpa Tanzin saw his daughter struggling to find reference books for her coursework during the Covid-19 lockdown, he built a library in Chicham, their remote village in Spiti valley.
Schoolgirls raise their voice successfully against prejudice
Recognising the strength of collective power, the girl students of a rural government school get their misogynistic teacher replaced, improve washroom facilities and inspire action in other schools.
City student’s eye-opening account of village trip
It may need years of stay in a village for a visitor to understand rural challenges, but even a brief trip can make an indelible impression. This college student from Greater Noida gets a firsthand experience.