In a humanitarian initiative aimed at ensuring that poverty does not become a barrier to education, the Sharanabasaveshwar Vidya Vardak Sangha has extended free education and hostel facilities to 10 meritorious female students from economically weaker families who were on the verge of discontinuing their studies after completing class 8.

The beneficiaries are students of the Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School in Kalaburagi, where classes are offered only up to class 8. Despite consistently securing more than 90% marks in their examinations, the girls faced uncertainty over continuing their education because of the poor financial condition of their families.

The initiative was taken by sangha president Dakshayini Avvaji, who decided to sponsor the students after learning about their plight.

According to the press note, the issue was brought to her notice by one Savitha, whose daughter studies at the residential school. She appealed to Ms. Avvaji to help the girls, many of whom were unable to afford admission to schools of their choice after completing middle school and were considering discontinuing their education or joining government schools against their preference.

Moved by their circumstances, Ms. Avvaji, in the presence of the ninth Peethadhipati Doddappa Appa, personally interacted with the students and their families before announcing that all 10 girls would be provided free education, free hostel accommodation, uniforms, notebooks and textbooks under a programme instituted in memory of the late Sharanbaswappa Appaji, who was the eighth Mahadasoha Peethadhipati.

She also announced that in memory of Appaji, the sangha would continue the programme every year by extending similar support to deserving female students from economically disadvantaged families.

The beneficiaries come from families of agricultural labourers, hotel workers, autorickshaw drivers and domestic workers, while some are children of widowed mothers struggling to support their households. Their economic background had earlier qualified them for admission to the Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residential School.

The girls have now been admitted to class 9 at Mahadevi Girls High School and are staying in the girls’ hostel on the Appa Public School campus. The sangha has also arranged transportation between the hostel and the school.

Headmistress Jyoti Mallapur said the students had maintained their academic excellence after joining the new school and have continued to score above 90% in tests and examinations.

Published - July 26, 2026 07:22 pm IST