Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal

Bantwal, May 31: While children are typically welcomed in various ways for the new academic year, a government school in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district witnessed a unique gesture. The local gram panchayat, school development and monitoring committee (SDMC), and parents accorded a special and warm welcome to the teachers by sprinkling rose water, offering flowers, and presenting gifts.

This rare event took place at the Maji Veerakambha government primary school. As schools reopened on June 1, the SDMC and teachers had made all preparations to welcome the children as per the departmental orders. Meanwhile, the Maji Veerakambha SDMC, with the assistance of the Veerakambha gram panchayat, decided to extend a special welcome to the teachers who dedicate themselves to teaching throughout the year. This initiative was meaningfully implemented with the cooperation of the Shourya disaster management unit in Kalladka, parents, and school well-wishers.

A surprise awaited the teachers as they arrived at the school on Saturday. The gram panchayat development officer, SDMC president, and members jointly welcomed them by sprinkling rose water, draping shawls, offering roses, and presenting a file as a memento. Along with the teaching staff, the cooking personnel were also welcomed. School headmistress Benedicta Agnes Mendonca was felicitated on behalf of everyone present.

Participating in the programme, Bantwal block education officer Malathi noted that this new tradition of welcoming teachers in government schools makes the Maji Veerakambha school a model for others, adding that such an initiative is arguably the first of its kind in the state. School headmistress Benedicta Agnes Mendonca expressed that the love and support from the community serves as a tremendous source of encouragement for teachers who work under various pressures. Veerakambha gram panchayat development officer Shambhu Kumar Sharma emphasized the need for similar programmes everywhere to recognize and respect the hard work of educators.

Kalladka Shourya disaster management unit president Ganesh Netla, immediate past president Madhava Salian Kudrebettu, SDMC members Sudhakar Veerakambha and Vishwanath Ermemajalu, school alumni Krishnappa Poojary Kepulakodi and Prakash Bettaswaravu, Sneha Sanjeevini federation president Kusuma Shetty, ASHA worker Komalakshi, alumni association organizing secretary Chinna Maira, the teaching staff, ayahs, cooking staff, and students were present on the occasion.

A model school with modern facilities

During the last academic year, around 280 students from pre-primary to eighth standard were studying at the Maji Veerakambha school. For the 2026-27 academic year, 25 children have already enrolled for pre-primary classes and 27 for the first standard.

The school holds the distinction of being the first government school in the state to install smart TVs in all classrooms. Equipped with a reading room, computer room, Balavana, and solar power generation, the school is rapidly growing into a model institution. It boasts all necessary basic infrastructure, including a newly constructed building, which was made possible by the support of generous donors and CSR funds from various companies.