In a small village in Rajasthan’s Dausa district, about 55 km from Jaipur, two government school teachers are transforming the lives of students from economically weaker sections, over the last six years.
The married couple, Vinod (41) and Seema Meena (39) have been training underprivileged graduates to crack competitive examinations, free of cost and earn government jobs in Rajasthan and across India.
Inspired by Anand Kumar’s Super 30, the couple’s ‘Nishulk Guidance Classes,’ has helped over 300 underprivileged students secure government jobs in the police, railways, banks and other Staff Selection Commission recruitments from 2011.
They run the free coaching classes purely on their salaries and sometimes with help from Vinod’s parents.
The couple selects 60 students after a screening process, and they are then trained in subjects like English, mathematics, science, general knowledge and logical reasoning for three months. The classes last for four hours daily – except on Sundays.
They spend over Rs 20,000 per month from their own salary to cover the rent of the premises and stationery.
From an initial batch of 43 students in 2011, the couple has come a long way. Despite the success, they refuse to register their ‘institute’ as an NGO.
Inspiration behind the initiative:
It was Vinod’s own experience as a child belonging to an economically weaker section that inspired him to start the initiative. As a student in class six, he had to borrow a meagre amount of Rs 50 from a moneylender just to buy school textbooks and uniform.
An IAS aspirant himself, Vinod appeared thrice for the interview rounds of the UPSC’s civil service examination, but could not succeed.
Speaking to the Indian Express, Vinod shares, “I appeared in the IAS interview thrice but could not crack it. It was after this that I decided to share my knowledge with the youths who are not able to afford coaching classes.”
Read more: This UP-Based Not-For-Profit is Fighting Malnutrition, One District at a Time
Challenges
When the couple started the coaching class, they were mocked by their villagers. But over the last few years, the perception of the villagers has changed.
“Earlier, villagers would laugh at us for wasting money and time, but later, people realised its importance and more teachers willing to impart education on no remuneration joined the mission. Now, a group of super-30 aspirants and super-60 are formed for select competitive exams,” they told The Tribune.
Even though many of these students get selected to subordinate services, the service is capable of uplifting their poor families.
Impact
It is an absolute delight to see students who made the cut extend their gratitude to the couple’s efforts.
One of the beneficiaries, Nishu Singh who got selected as a government teacher said, “The coaching tips and their simple way of teaching helped in getting the job, which could not have been possible without their help and support.”
Another student, Ajit Singh Gurjar who is posted as a soldier in Indian Army, said, “I, like several others in tribal areas, could not afford coaching classes. The efforts of the couple have made my life. It is a true service to the humanity.”
Connect to Nishulk Classes here or contact them at 09785925827.