NRI Couple’s 17-Year Mission Boosts Rural Government Schools in Andhra Pradesh

After 20 years of raising government schools with better infrastructure, libraries and science learning facilities, an NRI couple created a fine example of rural education development through diaspora in India.

The Goutham Rural Education Development Society (GREDS) is a non-governmental organisation located in Ravinuthala, Andhra Pradesh, which has been working for 17 years to improve the conditions for learning in public schools that frequently lack academic resources even though they are government funded.

The organisation, which was set up in 2006 by Kodavalla Hanumantha Rao and Anuradha, natives of Prakasam, has so far committed roughly 2.5, 3 crore to rural education projects in the district. Their focus has been on improving practical learning and exam readiness for students in government schools.

Science Labs, Libraries and Learning Materials

Many schools in Prakasam district face shortages of laboratory equipment, books and classroom furniture compared to student strength. GREDS stepped in to bridge this gap by:

• Establishing full-fledged science laboratories in Inkollu and Ravinuthala Government High Schools
• Providing benches, dictionaries, grammar books and Class IX–X study materials
• Supporting academic infrastructure financially
• Creating a large rural library to promote reading habits

A major initiative was the setting up of “Kodavalla Venkateswarlu Grandhalayam” library in Ravinuthala in 2009 with an investment of nearly ₹1 crore. The library houses thousands of books, including material for state and national competitive examinations.

According to retired headmaster Moparthi Venkata Rao, the facility benefited hundreds of students preparing for careers, and continues to attract regular readers despite the rise of mobile learning.

From Rural Struggle to Global Success — Giving Back to Education

Hanumantha Rao did his initial schooling in his hometown. After graduating from IIT Madras, he went for further studies in the United States, where he is now a technology executive based in Seattle.

He came from a low income family background and thus, he was very close to the scarcity of academic materials. This was one of the reasons that motivated the startup of GREDS.

We have always wanted to create a better academic environment for the students of rural areas. We base our further support on the needs that come up, he added.

This initiative is a case study of how community philanthropy and NRI participation can be leveraged to raise rural government schools, enhance student achievement levels and career prospects of disadvantaged students in India.