inri village lies in the heart of Tharparkar’s desert region. It is a community of 240 households and a population of around 3,500. The pursuit of education is a daily struggle for its residents. Following years of government neglect, the villagers have taken public education into their own hands to ensure a better future for their children.
The Government Boys Elementary School, Kinri, lacks even a proper building. Students of Classes 1 to 5 study in three thatched huts. The middle school students attend classes in two rooms of an unused dispensary. The official teaching staff consists of two primary school teachers and one junior school teacher. All of them currently teach middle school classes. To bridge the gap, the community has hired three additional teachers to teach the primary grades.
The enrollment figures speak volumes:
Primary level: 200 students (including 70 girls)
Middle level: 100 students (including 25 girls)
The infrastructure is grossly inadequate. There are only 10 desks. In 2024, a philanthropist donated 50 chairs. The villagers contributed money to purchase 20 benches. During the last Ramazan, some NGOs donated school bags, stationery, clothes, and shoes, providing some temporary relief to the children.
To keep the community-hired teachers, the village has introduced a fee-sharing model. Parents of children studying above Class 4 contribute Rs 500 per month. Currently, around 60 households are participating in this initiative. The collective effort is vital in keeping the school running.
Although the official School Management Committee is currently inactive, the residents of Kinri have taken matters into their own hands by forming a community-led SMC. It consists of 20 active members. This committee oversees school affairs, raises funds and handles additional responsibilities like organising events on the Independence Day and Ekta Day. It also steps in when funds are needed for maintenance of the classrooms or to support some students.
Despite these efforts, education beyond middle school is a distant dream for most. Only 10 per cent of the students pursue higher education. A majority of the boys are forced to migrate to cities for work. The girls are often married off early due to a lack of nearby educational institutions.
2025 has been a landmark year. For the first time since 1947, five girls from Kinri have completed matriculation. They studied at a private high school in Kathe Vari, about five kilometers away and benefited from free home tuition given by Sikandar Ali, a devoted teacher, who has been a beacon of hope for the village.
The nearest government college is in Khame Jo Par, nearly 50 kilometres away. This makes higher education all but inaccessible, especially for girls.
The people of Kinri are not asking for charity. They are only demanding their basic right to education. Their urgent appeals include:
Construction of a proper school building with classrooms, toilets and boundary walls
Establishment of science and computer labs, recognising the critical role of IT and digital literacy in modern education
Setting up a library to foster a culture of reading and learning
Appointment of sufficient teaching staff
Provision of free textbooks, stationery and scholarships for deserving students
Upgrading the school to high school level to reduce the dropout rates
Opening of a college nearby so that the youth, especially girls, can access higher education without leaving the village.
The author is a gender expert and development professional. She can be reached at: sanakhanzada4@gmail.com
