Tech worker leaves Bengaluru job to open low-cost school in Jharkhand mining belt
Ghatotand, Jharkhand: As coal mining expansion pushed schools farther away, children in Jharkhand’s Ghatotand area were forced into long commutes or dropping out altogether. Nitesh Kumar saw the gap — and quit his job in Bengaluru to fill it. Kumar returned home to build a school in the village, giving children a place to study close to home for Rs 800 a month.
“Students were walking 8-10 km each way, or just stopping school after Class 5,” Kumar said. “I had a cushy job, but this felt more urgent.” The school now serves children of miners, daily-wage workers, and farmers from Ghatotand and nearby villages. It offers classes up to Class 10, with a focus on keeping fees low so families in the mining belt can afford it.
Parents say the change has been immediate. “My daughter used to miss weeks when we had no transport,” said one coal loader. “Now she walks 15 minutes to class.” The campus runs with a small team of local teachers. Funds come from the Rs 800 monthly fee and donations Kumar arranged after leaving his tech role in 2022.
Local officials note that mining activity has displaced several government schools in the region over the past decade. Community-led efforts like Kumar’s are bridging that gap. Enrollment has grown to over 200 students in two years. Kumar plans to add Class 11 and 12 next year so students don’t have to leave again for higher secondary education.
