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Indian farmer gives up home so village children can royal pandahave a school7 days agoShareSaveAbhishek DeyBBC News, DelhiShareSaveRiyaz KhanMakeshift classrooms have been set up in Mor Singh's houseAn Indian farmer from the hilly village of Piplodi in the western Indian state of Rajasthan has found himself in an unlikely spotlight. Mor Singh, 60, never went to school but his selfless act of handing over his house to the village school - after it was badly damaged due to heavy rains - has made him a local hero. His modest two-room residence now operates as an upper primary school attended by 50-60 students from the village, he says.Last week, the state government gave Mr Singh 200,000 rupees ($2,266, ￡1,682) in financial aid for his thoughtful gesture. Riyaz KhanMor Singh, who never had the chance to attend school, hopes others willRajasthan saw its wettest July in nearly 70 years with 285 mm of rain recorded statewide, the meteorological centre says.On 25 July, a classroom roof collapsed in Piplodi, killing seven children, injuring 21 others and leaving the village school unusable.Two days after the incident, Mr Singh and his family, which includes his two-year-old grandson, moved to a bamboo-and-tarpaulin shack, which they set up on a patch of land a few meters from his house.It is not an "ideal accommodation", but Mr Singh is willing to let go of his comforts for the future of the children, he told BBC over phone."If I had not taken that quick decision, many children would have dropped out. The only other school is in a neighbouring village, which is a two kilometre (1.24 miles) trek in the hills. While the older students would have managed, the younger ones wouldn't have," he says.It took him three years to build the house and he moved into it with his family 13 years ago. Vikram Singh ChouhanMr Singh's modest two-room residence now operates as an upper primary schoolThe 25 July tragedy in Piplodi exposed systemic issues of poor school infrastructure across Rajasthan. A recent government survey shows that more than 5,600 schools in the state are in dilapidated condition.After Mr Singh converted his home into a school, the state government has declared Piplodi a "model village" under a federal scheme.This would help attract more funds for a new school, a playground, a healthcare centre and other facilities, Ajay Singh Rathore, a local official, told the BBC. "Building a new school in the village will take at least another one and a half years," he added. Some 90 families, mostly tribespeople, live in Piplodi. "We are a poor community and have hardly seen any development," Mr Singh says. "That's why is essential for these children to go to school, get an education and accomplish their goals." Mr Singh's noble act has turned him into a local celebrity. "He is a hero for the entire village," says Ram Dayal, whose daughter was injured in the 25 July incident and now goes to school at Mr Singh's residence.Another resident, Ram Kumar, said: "If he had not offered his house for the school, many of the children would have dropped out. We all appreciate his gesture."Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.AsiaIndia
