Adilabad:Adivasi of the Mesram clan are planning to upgrade Sri Nagoba School of Excellence into college of excellence, along with a hostel, using voluntary donations from community members.

Their aim is to provide better educational opportunities for their future generations. The initiative comes after the clan successfully constructed a grand Nagoba temple at Keslapur village in Indravelli mandal of Adilabad district with donations from the community members. The community had mobilised ₹6 crore for the temple.

Mesram Adivasi community elder Mesram Koserao of Saleguda village said they have coined the slogan – Maa Kosam Gudi, Maa Pillalakosam Badi, so that their children can receive quality English-medium education and compete in a changing world, while preserving their Gondi, Koya, Kolami and other mother tongues.

The Mesram clan elders are now mobilising the community to collect donations on a much larger scale for the Sri Nagoba English-medium school and college of excellence, along with hostel facilities. Significantly, the Nagoba Mesram Clan Employees' Association and community members have already started the Sri Nagoba School of Excellence this year beside the temple. However, the school, with nearly 71 students, will be educating students only up to Class 4 in English medium. Orphaned Adivasi students are being offered education for free.

Mesram Venkatrao, the Nagoba Alaya Samsthan Peetadipathi, said the community has constructed the Garbhagudi (sanctum sanctorum) and mandapam of the Nagoba temple with donations from the Mesram clan families, while other development works have been taken up with government funds.

“We did not use government funds for construction of the sanctum sanctorum of Nagoba temple to ensure the sanctity of the temple and retain our traditional rights over the temple,” he explained.

Venkatrao said the school, which has been started on a small scale, would soon be expanded to college level for community children and youth. He regretted that no Mesram Adivasi had become an IAS officer after Late Madavi Thukaram of Luxettipet in Utnoor mandal in the 1980s.

Mesram Raju, principal of the Sri Nagoba School of Excellence, said efforts are being made to help primary school students secure seats in Navodaya, Sainik and Ekalavya schools. He said scientific temperament is one of the key elements of education at their institution. He disclosed that some non-tribal families are also sending their children to the school because of their belief in the Nagoba temple. The school charges a nominal fee, which is attracting many parents.

Harsini Madavi, a Class 3 student at the school, could be seen writing her name and date in English on her Hindi examination question paper. She said she enjoys studying in English medium and the school is close to her village.

Mesram Shekar Babu, a member of the Mesram Clan Employees' Association, said the institution was focusing on quality education, rather than increasing admissions. It is being run on a no-profit, no-loss basis. He said the association's president Mesram Sonerao, general secretary Mesram Devrao and other members are extending support in running the Sri Nagoba School of Excellence.

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