In a determined bid to combat falling student enrolment, Siddamalla Khot, headmaster of a Kannada government school in Adahallatti village, Athani taluk, has introduced an innovative scheme—offering a ₹1,000 fixed deposit for every newly enrolled student. This deposit, maturing in 18 years, aims to encourage parents to choose government education.

Like many rural schools, Khot’s institution, established in 2005, saw a sharp decline in students—from 70 in 2015 to just 18 last year—due to teacher shortages and poor infrastructure. Appointed in July 2023, Khot launched various initiatives, including quiz competitions, training workshops for youth, and summer classes, to rekindle interest in the school.

His fixed deposit scheme, introduced last year, has already shown results. With only two Class 1 students in 2023, the school welcomed nine new enrollments on the first day this year. Khot remains hopeful, expecting the total student count to surpass 40 soon.

Despite this progress, the school lacks basic infrastructure like a boundary wall and clean drinking water facilities. However, Khot’s dedication is restoring faith in public education. “The deposit is a small step; the real impact is our quality education efforts,” he asserts.

His unwavering commitment proves that resourceful leadership and community involvement can rejuvenate government schools, setting a model for rural education revival.