Even now, there are schools in this country, where basic facilities like benches to sit on are missing. Noticing young children sitting on the floor in one such school in Choutuppal, Telangana, the district police decided to adopt schools and provide them with facilities that will ease school life for the students. In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Assistant Commissioner of Police of Choutuppal, Mr. N Uday Reddy, talked about this noble initiative.
ADOPTING A SCHOOL
In keeping with the Choutuppal police department’s decision to adopt schools, ACP Reddy adopted the Sarvail Residential Boys School in the Yadadri district. The school, established in 1971, was a pilot model for the Navodaya residential schools, spread across the country.
“This was technically the first-ever school established in India that was based on a Gurukul concept model. The school became successful and later got replicated with different names across the country. Our present DGP, Mr. Mahendra Reddy, is from the same school. Likewise, many IAS and IPS officers have come out from this school,” Mr. Reddy said.
After the adoption of this school, ACP Reddy went about developing it and providing better facilities.
“I had adopted a school before and developed it entirely with my own pocket. This time I decided to adopt this school and provide the students residing there with appropriate facilities. The entire project cost was around 20-25 lakhs. I donated two months of my salary to it. Few companies of Choutuppal and Pochampally supported the cause and even a few officers donated their monthly salaries,” he informed.
FACILITIES PROVIDED
Mr. Reddy changed the face of the school by developing it to the best of his capacity. He got a track built for the student-athletes, costing around Rs. 5 lakhs.
Further, he provided complete power backup for the entire school that houses around 619 kids from class 6 to class 10 worth Rs 4,80,000. He will also provide bunk beds for around 150 kids to sleep on.
“The kids didn’t have proper benches and tables to sit and eat. Therefore, at my request, 3-4 companies donated around 250 dining tables and chairs for all the kids. We have also provided them with uniform kits and special drum kits for their bands,” Mr. Reddy told Indian Masterminds.
The officer also got constructed proper roads and lighting inside the school compound. He also got installed CCTV cameras for security.
CALLS OUT TO OTHER OFFICERS TO ADOPT
Mr. Reddy now plans to ask another senior IPS officer of the region to adopt one small school and take care of it.
“I will ask him to adopt a small school consisting of 30-40 children so that they can provide them with basic facilities such as tables and chairs and beds, which can be either arranged personally or with the collaboration of others who would like to come forward to help,” he said.
In fact, the officer is planning for a ‘adopt a school challenge’, whereby each officer who has adopted a school can pass the challenge to another officer and so on. If all go as planned, and the baton keeps getting passed from one officer to another, all residential schools of the district will soon see better days and have happy students.
