Jyoti Savitri School to Provide Quality Education for Rural Toppers in Pune District

A new school named Jyoti Savitri School is being set up in Pune district with the aim of offering free, quality education to meritorious students from rural areas. Backed by the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Shikshan Sanstha, the school will focus on supporting talented students from government and Zilla Parishad schools by giving them access to

A new school named Jyoti Savitri School is being set up in Pune district with the aim of offering free, quality education to meritorious students from rural areas. Backed by the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Shikshan Sanstha, the school will focus on supporting talented students from government and Zilla Parishad schools by giving them access to better resources, trained teachers, and a supportive academic environment. The school is expected to start functioning from the 2025 academic year, with residential facilities and a curriculum aligned with national standards.

I feel this is a very important initiative that deserves attention. Many bright students from rural areas often miss out on opportunities just because they don’t have access to quality schools, coaching, or academic guidance. The efforts of Jyoti Savitri School bridge that gap and open new doors for children who might otherwise get left behind. I’m writing about this not just to highlight a good news story, but to underline how meaningful change in education can start with the right intention and execution. When we support rural talent, we invest in the future of the country. That’s why projects like this need both public recognition and policy support.

A Vision for Equal Opportunity in Education

The Jyoti Savitri School project is part of a broader effort to provide high-quality education to students who show academic promise but come from underprivileged backgrounds. Run by the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Shikshan Sanstha, this residential school will be located at Maval in Pune district and is scheduled to begin in 2025.

What makes this school different:

Admission will be based on a merit list created from a special entrance test
It is aimed at students currently studying in government-run and Zilla Parishad schools
Selected students will get completely free education, hostel, and meals
The school will offer CBSE-based curriculum with a focus on both academics and extracurriculars
Emphasis will be placed on STEM subjects, English, general knowledge, and personality development

This model is inspired by the vision of offering rural students the same opportunities that urban students get through expensive private institutions or coaching centres.

Who Will Benefit from This Initiative?

Students who are:

Studying in rural areas of Pune district
From economically weaker backgrounds
Scoring consistently high marks in school exams
Motivated to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, civil services, or research

By focusing on this group, the school hopes to create a pool of students who can later become role models and give back to their villages and communities.

The People Behind the Project

The school is being built under the leadership of Shivaji Bhosale and supported by trustees and educationists from Pune and surrounding areas. The Sanstha already runs several educational institutes and is now taking a focused step towards rural education through this project.

What’s heartening is that the school is named after two iconic figures—Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule—who themselves fought for education rights in 19th-century Maharashtra. That adds symbolic depth to the effort.

Addressing Rural Disparity in Education

We all know that rural students face multiple challenges—lack of electricity, poor access to digital tools, fewer experienced teachers, and absence of academic support. What Jyoti Savitri School is doing is not just filling a gap but attempting to break the cycle of inequality.

If this school succeeds, it could become a model for other districts in Maharashtra—and even across India.

What the Government and Society Can Learn

The initiative shows that partnerships between NGOs, trusts, and local communities can create sustainable educational models. It’s not always about building more government schools. Sometimes, it’s about targeted, smart investment in high-potential children who can then go on to inspire others.

The government can consider replicating this format in other districts
Private players can sponsor scholarships or provide teaching staff
Alumni from such schools can be encouraged to mentor future batches

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.