Chandrashekhar Nuggali, a government primary school teacher from Almatti Dam Site, Vijayapura district, played a crucial role in getting free notebooks for government school children from next year. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced free notebooks for government school students of the state from the next academic year.

He made this announcement during a state-level Teachers’ Day celebration held in Bengaluru on September 5. Nuggali, who is also the State President of the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers’ Association and Secretary-1 for the All India Primary Teachers Federation (AIPTF) New Delhi, told TOI that he sent a chit to the CM requesting the supply of free notebooks. “I also thanked him for providing eggs, bananas, shoes/socks, milk, etc.

He also announced free power and water supply to all government schools, responding to our chit. This time, Siddaramaiah agreed after a brief discussion with V Rashmi, Secretary of the govt, School Education and Literacy Dept, and announced it immediately,” he added.

As of now, government school children are getting mid-day meals, textbooks, uniforms, etc. “Despite this, poor children and parents were struggling to buy notebooks, which will be a thing of the past from next year,” he added. CG Muttaladinni, an education enthusiast in Almatti, commented that it is a good development.

“One can note that some organisations and social activists are distributing notebooks along with their names at many schools across the state. However, it’s not sufficient. If the government itself supplies it, it will boost govt school children. Nowadays, the requirement for notebooks is increasing right from class one. Each child needs a minimum of 5 notebooks at the lower primary level.

We are proud that an Almatti teacher has played a pivotal role in this regard,” he added. He also recalled that Nuggali played a vital role in getting free power and water supply to govt schools two years ago. “Power supply was disconnected at many govt schools due to pending bills. After this initiative, all such schools were reconnected with power supply,” he noted.