Sometimes, when a door closes, a window does open.
Three years ago, Ranchi-based contractor Suresh Lakra noticed that the state-run middle school near Ara Gate, Namkum, didn't run anymore. He wondered about the education of children in the tribal-dominated locality and discovered that wondering would not help their case.
A year ago, Lakra built Green Garden High, a school in Namkum. Twenty-five tribal children are enrolled in this primary school with a neat, compact building.
But Lakra, who paid the salaries of five teachers that he appointed, knew that running a school would mean recurring expenditure.
That's when two other acquaintances ' Sanjeev Bajaj, who's the chief placement coordinator at XISS and Harish Dhanani, a businessman ' came into the picture.
Currently, Lakra, Bajaj and Dhanani, all in their forties, pay Rs 2,500 per month, or as they put it, "Rs 100 per child".
That takes care of tuition fee and academic paraphernalia of the children, most of whom who come from villages dotting Namkum.
An enthused Bajaj is now eyeing smart uniforms, textbooks and schoolbags for the children. He added that the abrupt closure of the government school at Namkum would have meant a bleak future for the needy children of the area, had Lakra not intervened.
"I think Lakra's done a great job. Then we also teamed up to sponsor the tribal children. We will like it if like-minded people join us," he said.
Dhanani said that for him, it was his most fulfilling investment. "It's a small amount, but I feel good that I am helping these children become responsible citizens of society," he said.
He added that they needed more people to keep expanding the school and give better facilities to children.
"We provide these children education free of cost and would like to keep it that way," he said.
The trio do not have any trust or organisation backing them. "It has started as a personal initiative," Bajaj said, adding that they hoped the small beginning would have a long journey.