Irinjalakuda: The students and teachers of Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Irinjalakuda, came together to build a new home for one of their schoolmates. The keys to the house were handed over on Monday by Higher Education Minister R Bindu, with Poomangalam panchayat president K S Thampi presiding over the ceremony.

The beneficiary, a Plus One student from Kanalpalam near Edakkulam, had been living in a shanty with tarpaulin walls and a roof woven from coconut leaves. He had told his classmates that he studied by candlelight, as there was no electricity connection in his home.

Moved by his situation, the teachers visited his house in an effort to help secure an electricity connection, only to discover the harsh living conditions he and his family faced. Deeply affected by what they saw, the entire school community decided to take collective action, launching a project to build a safe home for the boy and his family.

The initiative received generous support from the Lions Club of Irinjalakuda, the Wiremen and Supervisors Association, the Thavanish Organisation of Christ College, NRI well-wisher Manoj Thaivalappil, and the school’s alumni.

School principal M K Murali, PTA president V Bhakthavalsalan, panchayat vice president Kavitha Suresh, ward member T A Santosh, Lions Club president Biju Jose Koonan, Lions Lady president Dr Shruthi Biju, Wiremen and Supervisors Association patron K V Saseendran, Sister Rose Anto, Lalu Master, P Bharat Kumar, V R Binoy and C P Shaji also spoke on the occasion.