Prafulla Kumar Maharana

Kusa, a budding young arts graduate of 22, realizes that education forms the foundation of any society. Quality education is one of the most important means of the development which transforms a backward community to a developed one. Despite, the existence of a primary school in his village and a high school 2 km away from the village, quality education for children of his village has become a dream.

Kusa Kurami who belongs to Pakanaguda, an interior tribal village having 45 households of Nayakguda GP in Mathili block of Malkangiri district has created a ray of hope among the parents of Pakanaguda children for quality education.

In spite of many special educational programmes and policies implemented for backward areas, it seems the education in Pakanaguda is yet to bear the fruits.  Kusa being the first graduate in his village often dreams a developed village by imparting quality teaching to the children.

Without taking a single money from parents he is running a coaching centre in the evening at 6 pm for two hours in village Anganwadi Center. Kusa teaches all the children of Class-I to Class-VII tirelessly, assisted by Madhab Badami, a Class-X student of his village. “I am trying to illuminate small lamps to brighten my village”, says Kusa.“Around 30 – 35 children are regularly coming to the coaching centre. Their parents promptly send them to classes and without wasting time they study properly under the guidance of Kusa”, said father of Lachman Gouda, a student of Kusa.

Due to lack of electricity connection in Anganwadi Centre, Kusa uses charged lantern and mobile light during his coaching class. He is planning to arrange electricity to the room and has made a request to CYSD Project for support. Also, he has initiated to collect a token contribution Rs. 20/- from each household for electricity connection to centre ensuring community participation.

“Normally the teachers in government schools do not give sufficient time for doubt clearing of students. Rather they remain busy in other activities of the school, like Mid-Day Meal, etc. instead of focusing on education. As a result students do not get quality teaching in school. Further, language is a big barrier for tribal children. That’s way I have started this coaching centre”, said Kusa.

While imparting lessons to children, he always advises, “If you do not study well, you will not get admission in better government schools for quality learning. But, I want to see you all as good educated human being to make our village educationally developed.

Besides running the coaching center, Kusa also assists his father in rice milling and earning a pocket money Rs.200/- per day. “I feel proud that my son is providing free teaching support to our village children. Gathering of children in a common place in the evening for learning makes me really happy”, says Kusa’s father Laxminath Kurami.

Nevertheless, Kusa has made his career plan to become a teacher for which he will pursue Bachelor Degree in Education along with acquire computer application knowledge. Definitely, Kusa is an inspiration for the village school children.