Inspiration
This Principal is Bridging The Gender Gap in Rural Uttarakhand
He was awarded National Award for his work in the government school of Bageshwar district
Dr. Kewalanand Kandpal, principal of a government school, was conferred the National Teacher’s Award on Teacher’s Day (5 Sept 2020). Amongst the 47 chosen educators, his services to the education sector also stood out. He was recognised for his efforts in the overall community upliftment, like acquiring land for building a school, arranging mother-daughter meetings to promote girl education, preventing child marriages, and much more.
Since 2017, when he joined the Government Higher Secondary School, Pudkuni, he has been working for the community and the school to bridge the gender gap and to increase the number of gild students in the local schools. From convincing the villagers to spare land for the building to arranging funds, he did it all singlehandedly.
Once, he had to even fight tooth and nail for two of his grade 9 female students who were dragged out of the school by their guardians to forcibly get married. This motivated him to begin the monthly mother-daughter meetings, wherein these girls talk to their mothers about how they want to study and not get married before becoming financially independent.
About his efforts being noticed and appreciated by the whole country, the humble principal said, "It is a great moment that my efforts for merely 70-72 students in a remote village has been recognised at the national level.”
