In Karnataka’s Puttur, ‘Class On Wheels’ Project To Give Computer Education To Rural Kids

Through its new ‘Class on Wheels’ bus, which was introduced on November 18, the M Friends Charitable Trust, which provides food for carers at Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore, will provide basic computer education to government schoolchildren in rural areas. Speaking with the media, the trust’s general secretary Rasheed Vitla revealed that Mohammed Haneef Puttur, manager of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre Lab in the United Arab Emirates, came up with the concept to launch the bus.

After winning a Rs 50 lakh reward, Mr Haneef intended to use it to computer-literate students at government primary schools and the government higher primary school at Kunjuru Panja in Puttur, Karnataka where he studied.

To purchase the new ‘Class on Wheels’ bus, Mr Puttur donated Rs 50 lakh and the trust raised Rs 10 lakh. The new bus contains 16 laptops, 16 rotating chairs, WiFi, a sound system, a projector and internet access in addition to these features. Students in Classes 6 and 7 will receive 15 hours of fundamental computer education from the trust, taught by two seasoned teachers.

According to Mr Vitla, computer instruction for pupils at Kunjuru Panja’s Government Higher Primary School and the other nine government higher primary schools in Puttur taluk will be the trust’s initial focus. He stated, “We intend to expand this facility to other government higher primary schools.” This digital bus aims to provide basic computer education to five thousand children every year.

M Friends started a few years ago as just a WhatsApp group of 7 people, bound together with a common drive to do something for society. They then formed a charitable trust and started with small projects initially. Soon the trust increased in number to 65 members, 15 of whom are NRIs. M Friends has now undertaken various social services for the disabled, paying off hospital fees, meals for fellow patients, and adoption of villages.