
DHARABHOGAPURAM (RAMBILLI): In an era of classroom-centric school education where lessons about agriculture and textiles are relegated to a couple of chapters in
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Listing the subjects taught, D Nookaraju, the social science teacher said, “The students are taught academic subjects like Telugu, Hindi, English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Apart from these, vocational training is given daily in optional subjects including computer, electrical, tailoring and embroidery while horticulture and vegetable growing as well as khadi spinning is compulsory for all.” Their students K. Naveen and D Balaveramani have also won state award (second prize) in 2015 for their science project Hydroponics or Farming Technique without the use of soil and mud. They also grow vegetable and flowering plants in parts of the 50-acre land where their school and hostels are situated and use these for self-consumption and daily use in kitchen
But the most interesting feature of the school is spinning of khadi from raw cotton. BV Parameshwar Rao, the founder of the BCT, had been to Gujarat several years ago and the khadi-making process transformed him into a Gandhian. Charka machines were installed in the school for spinning cotton and the tradition is on for the last 15 years or so. P Anantalakshmi, the teacher for this section, explained, “Each student spins around 2,000 metres of cotton per day, which are made into bundles of 500 metres each. Every two-three months, these bundles are send to weavers in Kothapeta, around 10
Students D Nagamani, K Sanyasi Naidu, K Arjun Rao, B Shivaji, who were enthusiastically spinning the cotton, said in unison that charkha spinning is one of the classes they enjoy the most. “We feel proud to learn and make the fashionable clothes people wear from a roll of cotton. It’s also a matter of pride and interest that we know how to grow fruits, flowers
Speaking about the significance of having khadi spinning charkha as a compulsory subject for students, BCT secretary B. Sri Ram Murty said, “Charkha spinning is therapeutic. It enhances the concentration level and thinking ability of the students. It
This article could be seen online at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/students-take-to-the-charka-grow-vegetables-to-become-self-reliant/articleshow/57350081.cms
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