Uplifting the tribals

We received the Sociofare Award in the Sports Category on March 8, 2025. 

I was introduced to Ms Shruti through Deepak Saroj, our ex-student, who was a marathon runner. She is a daughter of an ex-subedar. We sponsored registration charges, travel, hotel, food, kit, etc. and believe me, she performed very well, winning medals in almost every race. She decided to switch over to cricket. She was awarded Best Performer as Bowler in the club. She played at the National Level for the Tennis Cricket Match held in Mathura 

She persuaded me to sponsor 3 more underprivileged girls. Lo and behold, they won a Gold Medal 

She found a job as a coach in Shaskiya Madhyam Ashram Shala, Kharpadi, Nashik District, Maharashtra for Tribal Children on a contract basis so she wouldn't get the salary for 12 months in a year. 

I offered her a job with better pay and perks with an Insurance company, but she declined saying she would prefer to coach Poor Tribal children. She worked very hard and decided to participate in an interschool competition. She got the form and realised that school had to pay for the registration. Authorities refused, saying they neither have approval nor funds from the government. We agreed to pay for registration. 

She then referred 1 more coach, Mr Sagar Karare, a National kho kho player at the Government Secondary and Higher Secondary ashram School, Thanapada, taluka Tramakeshwar, District Nashik for the Tribal Children. 

We paid registration for both schools. 

After registration, Shruti informed us that children could not play barefoot for inter-school competitions. We had to sponsor shoes for their teams. Next problem arose for the commute. They had to travel to different places and carry bags 

. We had to sponsor travel, food on the way, bag packs, trolley bags, first aid boxes, etc.. Both teams proved their mettle and won matches till the State Level. 

Looking at their success, many more students joined and we bought 250 pairs of shoes last year. 

During Lockdown, their contract was not renewed. After lockdown ended, the Government decided to pass on work to a Private Contractor. About 1500 teachers on a contract basis went on a strike, and the matter went to the court. It took 2 years to settle the dispute. In the meantime, many teachers found other jobs. 

These 2 warriors stuck to their ground. They worked wonders and kept coaching their students who have won many medals in different games. 

They Deserved this Award. 

The Government has announced the Dronacharya Award for the Best Teacher. 

Why name it after the Guru who demanded the Thumb of a Tribal Boy, Eklavya, as Gurudakshina. 

These 2 Teachers are bent on uplifting the Tribal children through sports so they deserve the Highest Medal ever for the Best Teachers. 

By Sona Kumar