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Illiteracy hasn't stopped Tulsi Munda from setting up a school for tribal children in a remote village in Orissa.
Tulsi Munda, a tribal woman in Serenda, Keonjhar district, Orissa, is illiterate. But that hasn't deterred her from working to educate the children in her community. Tulsi Munda started her work as an educationist by telling children stories about national leaders and freedom fighters. Several youngsters soon joined her, and together they laid the foundations of a night school. Today that school is called the Adivasi Vikas Samiti School, with 354 students, seven teachers and residential facilities for 80 students. Serenda is a mining village, home to about 500 tribals. Many of the older children stay home because they need to take care of young siblings while their parents ! are out working the mines. So Tulsi Munda set up childcare facilities in the school. This way, the older children can attend classes and the younger ones are looked after in a community set-up. Initially, Tulsi Munda raised money for the school by selling vegetables and puffed rice. Not all parents can afford to pay school fees. Those who can, pay Rs 200 a month. Aid has also started coming in from corporate houses, foreign aid agencies and individuals. Still, Tulsi Munda says there are times when it is difficult to pay the teachers their salary. The school now boasts two concrete buildings and a significant change in the education statistics of the area. Having initiated what she sees as the fundamental necessity for social change -- education -- Tulsi Munda now wants to take up other issues concerning the people of Serenda, through the Adivasi Vikas Samiti. One of the first issues tha! t she wants to tackle is alcoholism among the adivasis. This spirited 54-year-old woman is the recipient of the Padmashree and the Swabhiman award. Contact: Tulsi Munda
Adivasi Vikas Samiti
Village Serenda, P.O. Serenda
District: Keonjhar, Orissa, India
Tel: 91-06767-30401
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