82-year-old educator brought school to Tamil Nadu tribal hamlet, helped 50 kids

An unusual education initiative in Kodaikanal’s Kombai-Perungadu tribal settlement is changing how children and families think about schooling. Instead of beginning with textbooks, teachers first arrived with nail cutters, hygiene lessons and conversations with parents. The initiative, called “School on Wheels”, was started in 2024 by My School Satya Surabhi to reach children who had limited access to education. The school’s own website confirms that the programme began with 25 children and combines education with hygiene, nutrition, life skills and community engagement. Today, the programme has reached more than 50 first-generation learners. Around 20 to 25 children have also moved from the Saturday sessions into full-time schooling, giving them an opportunity to spend more time learning instead of being drawn into farm work.