For the past 11 years, Sumitra Koluru has been covering 19km, including 10km by foot, to reach the Government Higher Primary School in Dhopenahatti village, Dharwad taluk, where she is a teacher. Walking alone exposes Sumitra to the dangers of attack by wild animals as the school is located in a thick forest, but her determination to shape the lives of children in the small village overpowers her fear.
Sumitra joined the profession in 2005 and has been serving in Dhopenahatti since then. A resident of Alnavar, Sumitra reaches Dori by bus. In the absence of any transport service, she has to walk the rest of the distance to reach Dhopenahatti, which has a population of a little over 400.
"Of the 5km stretch from Dori to Dhopenahatti, only 2km is in good condition and the rest of the road is narrow. It is slippery too. The condition is worse in the rainy season as I have to wade through water and slush," she says.
Whenever her husband is free, Sumitra is dropped at a distance of 2km after crossing Dori. "Most of the people in this village are daily-wage labourers. I want to train and educate their children," she says.
A few days ago, Sumitra spotted a leopard in the forest. "I am scared of being attacked by wild animals. If I happen to spot an animal, I hide somewhere till the animal disappears," she says.
Sumitra joined the profession in 2005 and has been serving in Dhopenahatti since then. A resident of Alnavar, Sumitra reaches Dori by bus. In the absence of any transport service, she has to walk the rest of the distance to reach Dhopenahatti, which has a population of a little over 400.
"Of the 5km stretch from Dori to Dhopenahatti, only 2km is in good condition and the rest of the road is narrow. It is slippery too. The condition is worse in the rainy season as I have to wade through water and slush," she says.
Whenever her husband is free, Sumitra is dropped at a distance of 2km after crossing Dori. "Most of the people in this village are daily-wage labourers. I want to train and educate their children," she says.
A few days ago, Sumitra spotted a leopard in the forest. "I am scared of being attacked by wild animals. If I happen to spot an animal, I hide somewhere till the animal disappears," she says.