This Girls¡¯ School In The Middle Of The Thar Desert Needs No ACs

Located a small distance from Jaisalmer¡¯s famous Sam Dunes is an architectural marvel in Kanoi village aiming to educate girls and empower them. The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls¡¯ School has yellow sandstone and there are no ACs, as per TNN. Students can study and even play in the courtyard and not be worried about the extreme weather.

The institution is shaped like an oval that blends in the desert. The school portion, called the Gyaan Centre, will accommodate 400 girls from kindergarten to Class X when completely ready.

It took more than 10 years for Michael Daube, founder of CITTA, a non-profit organisation, to conceptualise the building and build it. Michael roped in US-based architect Diana Kellogg, who conceived the design.

The school was scheduled to start two years ago but Covid prevented it. Plans are afoot to launch classes within the next few months after the situation becomes conducive.

Daily Sun

Jaisalmer Maharawal Chaitanya Raj Singh said the school¡¯s oval shape symbolises womanhood across many cultures. The symbol projects infinity and complements the landscape of dunes that merges with the school. It is also how the children play in circles or the women work in a community, he said.

Singh said Jaisalmer Foundation president Manvendra Singh had provided 22 acres to Rajamata Rajeshwari Devi and he himself collected money for the school from Mumbai and New York. The main objective is to encourage girls to come and study. Initially, the school will have up to class 5, which will be later upgraded up to class 10.

Manvendra Singh said the school was designed by Daube of CITTA, which works in the education and health sector in the country and abroad.

The Better India

When Daube was scouting for land in Jaisalmer for the project, they met Manvendra Singh who fulfilled their wish. Later, members of the erstwhile royal family got associated with the Jaisalmer Foundation president and together made efforts to raise money for the institution. Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor and several renowned designers also pitched in with contributions for this school.

He said this school will prove to be a milestone for shaping the future of girls in rural areas.

CITTA website says that the schooling will be offered to BPL girls of Thar desert area. The facilities include classrooms, a library, a computer centre and bus facility to ferry girls from the nearby villages. The website says besides education to 400 girls, midday meals will also be provided to ensure proper nutrition.