School principal who taught lessons on gender equality feted for social service
Ajay Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 17
‘Knowledge is power and information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family,’ believes Anita Nanda (55), who has been running Lala Jagat Narain DAV Model School, Kabir Nagar, for the past 27 years.
Launched with the prime motive of providing education to children from underprivileged sections of the society, the school, in the past two decades, has produced several gems. Kusum Kumari, (16), a brave heart who made to the headlines last year by fighting against two snatchers who tried to steal her phone, also studies in the same school.
While Nanda preaches gender equality when it comes to education and learning, she also makes sure that the girls in her school are capable enough of protecting themselves. The exemplary courage showed by Kusum, who belongs to a humble background was only because of the self-defence training provided to her in her school.
Nanda says she tries to get maximum number of girls enrolled in self-defence training, as no extra fees is charged for it, students also enjoy learning the training.
“Initially, it was tough to open a school, especially in a backward area, which is a hub of criminals. But, I was determined to open a school for poor kids, especially girls, who do not have access to education. For the few years in the beginning, we provided free education to students. Convincing parents to send their girls to the school was another stumbling block. However, with the support of like-minded people, we overcame everything and gradually increased the strength of the school. Owing to the efforts of the teachers and the performance of the students, we got it affiliated to the CBSE and kept a nominal fee for the students, so that they could indulge in co-curricular activities and sports. This also made several parents realise the importance of studies and more number of students were enrolled in the school,” said Nanda, a resident of Defence Colony.
Apart from that, she also provides free-of-cost skill development training to widows or single mothers. Fee concession is also provided to children of such women, who are trained to open their own work.
Acknowledging her efforts in social welfare, her work was also recognised by the district administration and on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, she was also given an award of honour by the district administration.
