In brief
Mor Singh, a 60-year-old farmer from Piplodi village in Rajasthan, has turned his home into a makeshift school after the village school was rendered unusable due to heavy rains resulting in a roof collapse. His selfless act of prioritizing education for local children over his own comfort has earned him local hero status. In recognition of his sacrifice, the state government provided him with financial assistance, and efforts are underway to establish a new school in the village as part of a governmental initiative.
An Indian farmer from the hilly village of Piplodi in the western Indian state of Rajasthan has found himself in an unlikely spotlight.
Mor Singh, 60, never went to school but his selfless act of handing over his house to the village school - after it was badly damaged due to heavy rains - has made him a local hero.
His modest two-room residence now operates as an upper primary school attended by 50-60 students from the village.
Last week, the state government gave Mr. Singh 200,000 rupees ($2,266, £1,682) in financial aid for his thoughtful gesture.
Rajasthan saw its wettest July in nearly 70 years with 285 mm of rain recorded statewide. On July 25, a classroom roof collapsed in Piplodi, killing seven children, injuring 21 others and leaving the village school unusable.
Two days after the incident, Mr. Singh and his family moved to a bamboo-and-tarpaulin shack on a patch of land nearby.
While it may not be an 'ideal accommodation', Mr. Singh is willing to sacrifice his comforts for the future of the children. 'If I had not taken that quick decision, many children would have dropped out,' he explains.
Recent events revealed severe infrastructure challenges in education within Rajasthan, with over 5,600 schools identified as needing urgent repairs. Mr. Singh's initiative has spurred government attention with ambitions of declaring Piplodi a 'model village', aiming to attract more resources for a new school.
Local residents now regard Mr. Singh as a hero, with sentiment echoing throughout the community that education is a pathway for their children's future.
