Inspiration
Sowing Seeds of Value, These Indian Principals go Farming
Principal Narendra Chauhan from Gujarat and Headmistress Magdalene D’Souza from Dakshina Kannada have built huge kitchen gardens in their respective schools. Their students help them grow organic vegetables.
Mid-day Meal Plan was an initiative of the Indian government to increase the footfall and admission in their schools, especially in rural areas. If not for education's sake, students actually started coming to school to eat healthy delicious meals every day. It was truly a sign of relief as even the parents recognised their kids’ wellbeing behind this action.
However, real breakthrough began when the educators themselves took the baton in their hands and started growing vegetables in the school premises. The veggies grown were, of course, richer in nutrients and nourished the students adequately. Nourishment was clearly the base reason for the Indian govt. to start this program, since providing nutrition to children while growing up is extremely important and non-negotiable. But when the educators stepped in and joined hands to deliver healthier meals, we knew the real change in the society has begun.
One such admirable job is done by a Principal named Narendra Chauhan, who belongs to the Wayadapur Village in Gujarat. Chauhan saw how some of his students come from families that may not be able to provide these kids with nutritious meals. That is when he decided to create a kitchen garden in his school and prepare delicious food daily. It’s been 17 years now that he’s cooking and growing more than 14 varieties of vegetables!
Moreover, people from neighbouring villages, too, appreciate his efforts and often forward to help him cook and farm. Students were heard saying how they look forward to tasty meals daily at school and that they would never want to skip school again.
Even though mid-day meal is now a ritual across India, some schools in Dakshina Kannada have managed to stand out by building fully-equipped kitchens and maintaining beautiful organic gardens in their vicinities. Headmistress Magdalene D’Souza’s school DK Zilla Panchyat Govt. Higher Primary School in Bokkapatna-3 has a kitchen garden that grows organic veggies and no chemicals are used in the process at all.
It's the students who take care of this kitchen garden, even during their vacations. The school pays full attention to growing completely organic vegetables by utilizing only dung manure. Headmistress Magdalene says she sometimes invites volunteers from outreach programs to help in the task. In fact, she has people come over to study gardening and organic farming.
ScooNews welcomes real-life stories of such educators who believe in teaching beyond books and building the character of their students by motivating them to take such noble actions.
Image Courtesy: iamgujrat.com, Facebook – Bokkapatna-3 DKZP Higher Primary School