Miles away from the main city breathes a temple of education – KATADANGA NORTH JANATA ARYA VIDYALAYA. It is located in the state of West Bengal with the jute mill industry spread across the area. Katadanga North Janata Arya Vidyalaya offers education to the children of peasants, masons, carpenters and the local residents who strive to give their children a future where the can lead an independent life, free from the shackles of poverty and ignorance.

School entrance

Headmaster Suraj Sriwastav is a dedicated middle-aged man who has been associated with the school for almost a decade. It is the vision and dedication of Mr. Sriwastav which has given the school a shape so good to felicitate quality education for these children.

It is the utter delight of Round Table India to have identified Katadanga North Janata Arya Vidyalaya in 2015, under its ‘Freedom Through Education’ endeavour to support the school authority in realizing their vision – to uplift the lives of these underprivileged children by bringing them education. In 2015, the funds raised from RTI’s Run For Education were used towards giving the school a good infrastructure which included building 4 big classrooms for the primary school students.

Main building of the school

These 4 classrooms were built on the 2nd floor of the school and is spread across an area of 2600 sq. ft. A total outlay of Rs. 24 lakhs was invested in building this infrastructure which has impacted the lives of more than 800 students in the school.

With a current strength of about 1300 students in 2019, the school charges an annual fee of less than Rs. 250/- per student. The constant encouragement from the Headmaster and all the teachers push the children to not only achieve better in studies, but also take part in sports and activities that will enhance their life-skills.

Classroom

The funds from RFE have helped in giving the school a lawn with a concrete platform where children rush out to once the final bell rings, and a staging area that today showcases the students’ achievements and creations. They have also built an IT room that is well-equipped to expose the children to the digital world and prepare them for the algorithmic future. Mid-day meals, filtered drinking water, and hygienic environment are the other basic amenities for children that the school takes care of. The Headmaster’s farsightedness is the major driving force the school’s progress, and RTI stands as a rock-solid pillar of support!

Today when you visit the school, it is not barren and half-filled. The premise is a buzz with classrooms filled with diligent students.

School corridor

Round Table India and Run for Education resonates with lines by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore:

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free…
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.”