Pogilla, a village deep within the Nallamala forest in Nalgonda district, has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to one dedicated teacher, Venkateshwarlu. This village, part of the Chandampet Mandal in the Devarakonda constituency, was almost forgotten, with its school nearly abandoned. In 2019, the school had only five students. However, the arrival of Venkateshwarlu changed everything. Living alone in the forest village, he connected with parents and boosted the student count to nearly 50, managing five grade levels by himself.
Venkateshwarlu, originally from Anajipuram village in the Suryapet district, started his journey in Pogilla in 2019. At first, he found only a handful of students. Today, the school has grown to 43 students. He focused on providing quality education to tribal and economically disadvantaged children in the village.
He shared that he lives alone in Pogilla to serve the students. Each day, he takes attendance and visits absent students’ homes to ensure they attend school. In the evenings, he offers free tuition to help improve their academic performance. Although officially transferred to Peddavoora in the Nagarjuna Sagar constituency, he returned to Pogilla as no replacement teacher was assigned.
For six years, Venkateshwarlu has been the sole teacher, covering 18 subjects for grades 1 to 5. He gives individual attention to each student to ensure they meet academic standards. He promised parents to do justice to their children’s education as long as he remains in Pogilla.
Villagers appreciate Venkateshwarlu’s dedication, noting they have never seen such commitment. The story of Pogilla highlights broader issues in government schools, especially in rural areas, where neglect persists despite available infrastructure.
