Returning to tribal heartland

Sanjeevani Kusum, honoured with the Best Principal Award in Eluru district for her contribution to education has been punching above her weight in making a difference in the lives of tribal students

KIRANMAI TUTIKA | AMARAVATI : In the remote tribal agency belt of Buttaigudem, where isolation and limited opportunities can shape young lives, Government Junior College is quietly changing the narrative. Leading this effort is Principal Sanjeevani Kusum, who has been honoured with the Best Principal Award in Eluru district for her contribution to education and students.

The college caters to nearly 500 students annually, most of them from the Koya tribal community. For many, it is a bridge to opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings. Kusum began her career at the same college as a Junior Lecturer in Zoology when it was established nearly 20 years ago. She later served at Jangareddygudem, Palakol and Kovvur, and worked as Deputy Secretary at the Board of Intermediate Education, Tadepalli, in 2021.

Two decades later, she returned to Buttaigudem as Principal. Though she could have sought a posting in an urban area, Kusum chose to stay, viewing her return as an opportunity to serve tribal students once again and work in the natural environment she deeply values.

 Under Kusum’s leadership, the college has sought to make education relevant to the aspirations and realities of its students. Alongside regular Intermediate courses, it offers vocational programmes such as Medical Lab Technician and Midwifery, opening direct pathways into healthcare careers. Thousands of young people who trained at the institution have gone on to build careers as laboratory technicians and nurses, serving patients in different parts of Andhra Pradesh.

For Kusum, the recognition is therefore not simply a personal achievement. It is an acknowledgement of the collective work of teachers, students and the institution that has continued to serve a community where education can be transformative.

Her own background reflects a deep engagement with writing, journalism and communication in Telugu, English and Hindi, alongside her work in education. That breadth of experience has strengthened her belief in education as a tool not only for academic progress, but also for confidence, communication and personality development.

The Best Principal Award is now another milestone in that journey. In Buttaigudem, Kusum’s story is ultimately about something larger than an award, giving children from the agency region the confidence to dream, the skills to pursue those dreams and the education to turn them into reality.