Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]education/cabbages-cash-in-school-of-thought-by-raj-kumar-12791.html"/> Education | Cabbage’s cash in school of thought by Raj Kumar | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Cabbage’s cash in school of thought by Raj Kumar

At a time when paper and plastic money is the pivot of pecuniary transactions, a postgraduate in statistics from Ranchi University has turned the age-old barter system into the bedrock of a unique cradle in a hamlet on the outskirts of the capital.

Students of Bhavna Vikas Vidyalaya at Konki village in Kanke block, some 20km from Ranchi, are basking in academic glory in lieu of vegetables. Yes, you heard that right. Nazib Ansari, who runs the school with active support from retired army personnel, accepts farm produce from students who cannot afford even the paltry fee.

“When we started the school in 1999, we fixed Rs 50 as the monthly fee. But soon we realised that many families in the village cannot afford it. So, we decided to accept vegetables instead, as Konki is a village of farmers. Since vegetables are not produced every month, we collect the yield once a year and sell it outside the state. The proceeds are deposited in the school’s account,” the 30-something philanthropist told The Telegraph.

Farmer Qurban Ansari, whose two daughters and three sons study in the school, lauded the remarkable system Nazib started some three years ago. “The school does not demand any fixed quantity of vegetables. It accepts whatever we can comfortably spare. For the past two years, harvest was poor and the fee fixed by the school could not be compensated, but there was no fuss,” the father of five said.

Mohammed Aarif, a local resident who worked as an electrician with Jindal Steel, echoed Qurban. “The school has become popular because one does not have to spend cash,” he said. Another villager, who is an employee of Tata Steel, couldn’t agree more. “The cradle is a best place you can have for education of the underprivileged,” he added.

Class VIII student Sadab Akram, who comes from a farmer’s family and studies in Nazib’s cradle with his two brothers and one sister, said they had learnt to dream big. “None of us would have been literate if this school were not here. We are poor, we cannot afford the fee,” he said.

On why he did not go to a state-run cradle where education is provided free, the 14-year-old added: “The nearest government school is 4km from our village. We cannot pay for transport and will have to trek all the way.”

In its lucky thirteenth year, the school of thought, which started with only a dozen pupils, boasts as many as 600 students from nursery to Class X. More than 500 of them belong to the minority community and not less than 400 are girls.

When The Telegraph visited the nondescript campus on Wednesday morning, the children were rehearsing for their Republic Day function outside the asbestos-roofed classrooms in the lap of lush green fields of cabbage and cauliflower. Two wells showed that amenities were in place.

So were ambitions.

“I want to become a doctor and serve the poor who cannot afford expensive treatment. I wish to help people in the manner in which my teachers are helping me learn,” said Aasifa Imam, a Class VI student. Aasifa’s siblings — a sister and a brother — also study with her.

The cradle has 13 teachers who barely get Rs 1,500 a month in lieu of their selfless service. But they are not dissatisfied. “I find proper use of my time at this school. I may not be getting a plum salary, but I have job satisfaction. All of us here are happy to promote education among minority students, especially girls,” said teacher Sushila Tirkey, whose husband operates a crane at Jindal Steel.

Sergeant Anirudh Singh, a retired India Air Force personnel and secretary of the Bhutpurv Sainik Kalyan Sangh, plays an active role in the development of school. “Former servicemen help the school time to time. Sometimes, we rustle up funds to pay honorarium to teachers; sometimes, we provide uniforms, woollens and trophies to students. All of us do whatever little we can to keep the school going.”

Doing instead of dreaming is indeed the key to success. When will our laggard government learn this lesson?