Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Dec 18: Renowned actor, director Rishab Shetty has adopted Keradi government higher primary Kannada medium school where he got his primary education for five years. Shetty, who has undertaken a campaign to save Kannada schools from the time he produced the movie ‘Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai’, has taken a step towards developing the school of his native place.

Rishab has plans to develop the school comprehensively through Rishab Foundation. Through this he has undertaken the campaign to save Kannada schools.

Rishab, who is preparing the shooting of blockbuster ‘Kantara’ prequel, is residing presently at Keradi, his native place. On Sunday, he visited the school where he did his primary schooling. He also had preliminary discussion on adopting the school. In addition, he held talk with the present students and teachers for some time. He announced that he will is adopting the school.

Rishab shot the movie ‘Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai’ at Kairangala government higher primary school of Bantwal taluk. In the movie he has thrown light on the pathetic state of Kannada schools in border areas of Karnataka. The school then had 42 students, which got depleted to 12 and was about to get closed. However, Rishab took the challenge and changed the appearance of the school and within a year the number of students jumped to 84. Now he has decided to develop his alma mater.

At present, there are only 71 students in Keradi school. The school has one permanent teacher and rest honorary teachers. The Rishab Foundation will develop the fundamental infrastructure of the school with well-equipped classrooms, teacher for every class, compound wall and if required school vehicle. Rishab also said that they have plans to begin LKG, UKG spoken English teaching also.

Speaking on the occasion, Nagesh Naik, block education officer of Byndoor zone said, “The step taken by Rishab Shetty, who has created a niche in not only Kannada but the film world of India, to adopt his alma mater is really appreciable. The department will provide all cooperation in this regard.”

Keradi gram panchayat president Sudarshan Shetty, vice president Kusuma Poojari, director of Varasiddi Vinayaka PU college Pradeep Shetty, lawyer Prasanna Kumar Shetty Keradi, director of CA bank Bhujanga Shetty, entrepreneur B S Suresh Shetty and others were present.

SDMC president Satish Kotari welcomed. Head teacher of the school Vijaya Shetty compered the event.

Rishad Shetty said, “I came to know that Kannada schools are getting closed and made ‘Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai’ to highlight the issue. Now I have taken this project as the prequel to that work. The aim of development of Kannada schools is the motto of Rishab Foundation. As the first phase, I have adopted the school of my native place for the next five years. In coming days, the foundation wishes to save and nurture the Kannada schools that lag behind and on the verge of closure.”