PUNE: Twenty-four students from standards I to IV from Ambe Shivthar Sahyradriwadi, a remote hamlet in the Sahyadris in Raigad district with a population of 150, will start their academic session in a new school building on Wednesday.
Last year, their hamlet was completely damaged in a massive landslide. Residents’ homes and the only school lay in a shambles.
The school was relocated to avoid further damage, and to ensure no breaks in schooling, a makeshift shelter was arranged nearby.
With help from the members of Akhil Bhartiya Giryarohan Mahasangh, the apex organisation for mountaineering in Maharashtra, the school was rebuilt in six months and inaugurated on June 12.
Umesh Zirpe, president of the mountaineering group, said, “During the rehabilitation of residents last year, members of Sahyadrimitra, an NGO from Mahad, noticed the need to rebuild a permanent school building. Their school teacher Ravindra Jedhe had arranged a small shelter nearby to ensure continuous schooling. Our group along with others worked on the construction of the new building.”
The hall that can accommodate all 24 students from standards I to IV. “It was necessary to construct it at the earliest so students do not lose interest in education. There is a high school nearby for further studies,” Zirpe added, saying, “We raised Rs 6 lakh via crowdfunding to build the school,” .
Local people, police officials, and numerous donors from the state contributed to the rebuilding of the school.
