Border school basks in the depths of green

Setting a model

The look of the Bennavara Government Lower Primary School, situated just two km away from the Andhra Pradesh border, always attracts passersby.

Barely a step into the compound and a person is forced to bow before the awe-inspiring fruits of labour of the staff and students.

The School, with 53 students, is a close competitor of a private school nearby. The staff have to constantly work to ensure parents do not shift their children there, falling for the charms of a private school. Most of time, they attempt at achieving this by bringing true the government slogan of each school having a garden.

The only staff the School has are headmistress Sujatha and assistant teacher Vijaya Kumar. Kumar, a native of Narasapura near Kolar city, commutes to the School everyday.
A unique achiever, he has proved that being deprived of a healthy body need not be a hindrance to achievement. Kumar is crippled in one hand and leg. Yet, he is not only employed as a teacher, but also works at maintaining the greenery on campus at Bennavara.

The cooperation and encouragement from Sujatha, combined with his own will and desire to convert the campus into a beautiful, green place, led Kumar to Mulbagal and Srinivaspur, to find and purchase saplings.

Relentless effort

Usha, an anganwadi worker in the School, says with pride, “Vijay Kumar has been striving the last three years to maintain the greenery in the compound. It is difficult for him, yet, he get the saplings from different places to plant all over the campus.”
Kumar is also seen very often, planting them on campus, with assistance from students. The water provided by the Gram Panchayat is collected in the School and used on the plants.

Poppy, pineapple, onion, garlic, potato, champak and several other plants are found in the School. The students spare some time during the lunch hour to tend to the plants.
The School is yet to win any of the awards given by the Environment Department. The teachers, too, however, have not applied for the awards so far.

The School, green throughout the year, is, nevertheless, an antithesis of several schools that have won awards but have not been able to live up to it, thanks to the searing heat of summer.