“There was a time when I was just a young child and my mother was hospitalized. On the day of her discharge, despite her illness, she insisted that my father drop me off at school for half a day,” Milind fondly shares some cherished memories of his mother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Coming from a lower-middle-class family, with his father working as a labourer, Milind faced numerous challenges. However, after completing his own education, he joined a school in his village as a computer teacher. It was during his time there that he witnessed the transformative power of computer knowledge in the lives of his students, opening doors to employment opportunities. This realization fueled his determination to make a difference.<\/span><\/p>\n With the support of his brother, Prashant Baraskar, Milind started on a journey to establish their own computer classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Inspiration behind the school<\/b><\/p>\n In a world where computer knowledge held the key to job opportunities, the importance of education in transforming lives became abundantly clear. This realization sparked a strong desire in the hearts of two brothers, Milind and Prashant, to bring about a positive change in the education sector. They were driven by their mother’s dream to provide their own children with a <\/span>quality education,<\/span><\/a> and they were determined to extend this opportunity to other children as well.<\/span><\/p>\n Guided by the principle of <\/span>Matru-Pitru Devo Bhava<\/span><\/i> (reverence towards parents), Milind and Prashant wanted to establish a school that would be a beacon of love and nurturing. They named it Nanadchaya, a beautiful amalgamation of their parent’s names, Nandakumar and Chaya. It symbolized the roof of parental love under which every child would flourish.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2004, they took the first step towards their vision by establishing Nanadchaya School in a humble slum area, starting with Junior and Senior KG classes.<\/span><\/p>\n Read Also: <\/b>This Leader Left His Well-Paying Job To Build A School That Is Changing Lives In Raigarh<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n How the school started<\/b><\/p>\n In the Initial days, Milind and Prashant faced many financial challenges. They started the school with only 12 students in the first year, which made it difficult to pay teachers well and keep them on staff. Since most of the <\/span>parents came from working-class backgrounds<\/span><\/a>, the school had to charge minimal fees. Milind says, “During that tough time, our father provided us with financial support and used all his savings to help the school grow. He gave us the patience to succeed. We had tough competition and it was hard to sustain.”<\/span><\/p>\n “Initially, other schools used to complain about our school to the education department because we lacked basic facilities and affiliation. There were people who tried to mislead parents by saying, <\/span>“Your child won’t get admission to any other school because this school is not affiliated,” <\/span><\/i>Milind adds. Despite facing numerous challenges, the brothers developed strategies to overcome them. They prioritized quality teachers and honesty. Transparency and respect became the keys to their success. They kept fees affordable and sought insights from parents to address the difficulties they faced. This approach earned them respect and appreciation.<\/span><\/p>\n A significant aspect of Nanadchaya School is its strong monitoring and evaluation system. “The school always supports students, even outside of regular school hours. Some students lack a conducive study environment at home, so they stay back at school until their parents come home, studying and receiving assistance.”<\/span><\/p>\n Also Read:\u00a0<\/strong> Determined School Leader Transforms Rural Education With Quality Education And Strong Relationships<\/a><\/p>\n Proud moment<\/b><\/p>\n Milind shares, “We feel extremely proud when we hear children from uneducated family backgrounds speaking in English. We make use of the Christmas vacation for various activities, and people praise us for this. We also organize a science exhibition, and one of our projects on Hydroponics reached the district level. The appreciation we received for that project was truly invaluable, surpassing any ranking. We participate in numerous competitions across different domains to broaden students’ perspectives on the world and show them<\/span> opportunities for improvement<\/span><\/a>. Thanks to these initiatives, we have grown from 12 students to 1,200 students.”<\/span><\/p>\n Partnership with Varthana<\/b><\/p>\n![\"CTA\"](\"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/CTA-School-Banner-3.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nStarting with just two computers in their humble abode, their mission was clear: to provide knowledge and create employment opportunities for their students.<\/span><\/h2>\n
In the vicinity, numerous schools existed, but many families found quality education to be financially out of reach. Milind and Prashant recognized this disparity and strongly believed that everyone should have the opportunity to access education, regardless of financial circumstances.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
“We believe students are the heart of the school. Despite our authority and position, my brother and I engage with students based on their age. We even taught some bright but financially disadvantaged students for free, and they scored above 90%,” Milind humbly shares.<\/span><\/h2>\n