EDUCATION

Since 1995, the Society for Nature, Education and Health (SNEH) has managed Nalinee Vidya Mandir (NVM), a fully residential high school for tribal girls in Rayagada, Odisha. Supported by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, NVM currently provides education and residential care to 267 tribal girls from Classes I to X, primarily from remote and economically disadvantaged communities.

NVM provides an enabling environment that combines quality education, nutritious meals, safe accommodation, academic coaching, computer education, vocational skills, sports, cultural activities and personal care. Its holistic approach has contributed to a remarkable zero-dropout record since inception, while students have earned recognition at district and state levels in sports, science, art and other co-curricular activities.

The school also promotes future readiness through vocational skills, including tailoring, embroidery, traditional crafts and basic IT education, while preserving tribal culture and knowledge. A participatory School Management Committee and Mother’s Committee ensure strong community involvement and accountability.

Recognised with the Prakruti Mitra Award in 2016 and 2021, NVM now aspires to strengthen digital and STEM learning, life skills, leadership and career readiness—enabling every tribal girl to learn confidently, lead with dignity and build a future of her choice.

Location: Salia Sahi slum, Bhubaneswar

To compensate for the poor quality of education provided in government schools in Odisha, SNEH has started special morning and evening free tutorial classes for children from the Salia Sahi slum in Bhubaneswar. Most slum families are below the poverty line (BPL) and cannot afford the coaching their children might need, to do better in the board-level examinations.

The Tutorial Centre has not only helped many slum children improve in their studies, it has also checked the drop-out rates in schools in the vicinity of Salia Sahi. The students benefit from individual attention and a customised learning approach that is sensitive to their circumstances and community problems. This keeps them engaged, interested in education and away from petty crimes and substance abuse that is common among children growing up in slums around the country. Providing coaching and bolstering education efforts are a part of the wider community intervention undertaken by SNEH. Currently, more than 50 children attend these tutorial classes, which have four teachers.