Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Sep 4: Edward D'Souza, teacher of Kattadabail school in this taluk, who is fondly known as 'Kanike Dabbi (donation box) Mestru', has been selected for the state level best teacher award for the year 2021.
The school at Kakttadabail was facing the prospect of closing down as its roof was about to crash and there was dearth of teachers. The school did not have basic infrastructure. At this critical time, D'Souza volunteered to work in this school and joined the school on July 15, 2003.
From then on, with the support of donors from the village and elsewhere, people's representatives, colleagues in his department, Dharmasthala establishment, relatives and friends, he has pooled over a crore rupees and developed the school with this money.
His method of collecting donation for the school development has been unique. He handed over donation boxes to every household and requested the families to donate one rupee per day for the school. He also maintained his own box. He walked five to six km every day and saved fare of Rs 11 which he put into the box every day. He did not buy vehicles, and never boarded public transport. He had met with a small accident after which he had decided to walk all his life. The amount he so saved was used for the welfare of the students. In 1,071 days, he collected 3,33,333. The donations are continued to be collected. This money is used to distribute books and bags to students besides handing over incentives. Part of the money also is used for programmes like talent recognition, integration, trips etc.
With the intention of inculcating the habit of reading among the general public, he started 'Swarna Library'. He convinced most of the over 200 families living in a radius of four kilometres from the school right from the year 2011 not to burn or litter plastic in public places. By handing over plastic collected from hundreds of houses to the gram panchayat, he had started to implement the concept of Swachh Bharat long back.
This teacher does not hesitate to seek donations for the school from others. However, he has never sought anything for his own. Even though there are schools near his home, he has not sought transfer there. He has signed his willingness to donate his body upon his demise for medical research, to Fr Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, in 2008. He has been spreading awareness about body donation, blood donation and organs donation among the villagers.
The 'Kanike Dabbi Mestru' never brags about what he has done for the school, people and students. When someone mentions his achievements, he feels awkward. The education department has rightly recognized his selfless services. People like him deserve rich encouragement.