Special Report: Rishab Shetty to adopt Kairangala School

• Rishab Shetty has decided to adopt the school at which they shot the film, to save it from shutting down.

Mangaluru: Rishab Shetty, director of ‘Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale Kasaragod’ movie, which presented in a unique way the situation of Kannada schools in the border areas and the necessity to protect them, has not forgotten the Kairangala School where the movie was shot. He has come forward to adopt this school which is on the verge of closure.

Kairangala Government Higher Primary School in Bantwal taluk has a history of 137 years and is now facing the threat of closure. Though the movie highlighting the closure of Kannada schools along the border of the state has achieved success, ironically, the very school where the movie was shot at does not have students.

Kairangala School gives education from 1^st to 7^th standard and presently, there are only 25 students here. There has been no admission for 2^nd standard. Currently, there is only one teacher here. Hence, the school is facing the certainty of closure.

With the aim to save the school from closure, Rishab Shetty and team have come forward to have talks with the school trust. The school management has responded and talks on the future for the school will be discussed later this month.

Anil Shetty (originally from Mangaluru) and team have already carried out ‘Kannada Shale Ulisi Andholana’ (Save Kannada School Campaign) which has garnered good response and appreciation. There are close to 100 activists in Anil Shetty’s team and have decided to join in with the new journey by Rishab Shetty.

Thought to start a pre-school

A few believe that studying in Kannada school may cause problem during further education. Therefore, it has been thought to start a pre-school here to put an end to this belief. The team thinks that by starting a pre-school, the strength of the students can be increased and also prominence will be given to Kannada language.

“Currently there are 25 students at Kairangala School. There are no students in 2^nd standard. I am the only teacher. We have conducted awareness programmes with the aim to save the school. The school building is good. The only lack is the number of children. In order to increase the strength of the students, in the coming days, we’ll be visiting door to door to spread awareness,” said Devdas, Headmaster, Government Higher Primary School, Kairangala.

Not a one man show

Rishab Shetty spoke to ‘Udayavani’ and said that saving government school cannot be done by a single man. It is not enough if there’s only cash in hand and people. Students must be made to come to school too. The facility of school van should be created to bring students to the school. No matter what, I will not allow the closure of Kairangala Govt. Higher Primary School, he assured.