Bhopal, August 21, 2026

What does a government school child need beyond textbooks? In Itarsi subdivision of Madhya Pradesh, the answer has been explored through an unusual set of experiments-a day inside the SDM's office, coding lessons, colourful classroom libraries, proper benches and even exposure to an Army firing range.

The initiatives were taken up during T Prateek Rao’s stint as SDM, Itarsi, with a common objective: give students opportunities and exposure that may not normally be available inside a conventional classroom. Rao, now Additional Commissioner, Gwalior Municipal Corporation, shared details of these experiments during a conversation with Umesh Singh. A presentation subsequently shared by him provides a closer picture of their reach and outcomes.

The first experiment took students straight into the world of administration.

Under “A Day with the SDM,” one boy and one girl from schools are selected every week to spend time with officials. They observe government functioning, attend Jansunvai public hearings and witness court proceedings. More than 30 students have participated so far. The idea is to make governance something they can see and understand rather than merely read about.

From administration, the experiment moved to technology.

Code-Itarsi began in Kesla block in July 2024 with CodeYogi, a Dehradun-based ed-tech organisation. Coding was taught in the local language, with an emphasis on reaching students who may not have easy access to computers or advanced digital learning. The programme has since grown considerably. The presentation records 6,076 enrolments across 157 schools, with a 1:1 gender ratio. Of them, 576 students have cleared Level 7.

One student turned those numbers into a success story.

Lalit Yadav from Bhatti secured second rank in a Rural IT Competition jointly conducted by the Karnataka government and TCS. He competed against students from 14 states. The presentation says the computer skills that took him there were acquired through the initiative.

Technology, however, was only one gap being addressed. Reading needed attention too.

The Hanging Library initiative took illustrated books and stories closer to children. Under the programme, 59 schools in Kesla block received 100 curated books each through a partnership with Pratham Books and IndiVillage Foundation. A three-year MoU was signed to sustain the programme.

The idea is uncomplicated. Instead of keeping books distant from children, make them visible and easily accessible inside their learning environment. The programme seeks to improve reading habits, curiosity and critical thinking, with plans for wider expansion.

Then came an even more basic question: how well can a child learn while sitting on the floor?

Some schools lacked sufficient classroom furniture. “Bench of Hope” was started with CSR support to address that gap. The target is 1,000 benches, with 20 benches for each school. Of these, 405 benches have already been distributed across 20 schools, providing seating for more than 40 students in each participating school.

The fifth strand looks towards careers and aspirations.

Under Veer Sena Darshan, senior-secondary students interested in joining the armed forces were given exposure to the Taku Army Firing Range in collaboration with the Central Proof Establishment. Forty students, including six girls, participated. They saw defence equipment, learnt about readiness procedures and interacted with serving Army officers. The visit also introduced them to career pathways such as NDA, CDS and Agniveer. For a student considering the armed forces from a distance, such exposure can turn an abstract ambition into a career option that can be understood and pursued.

Seen together, the five experiments address very different needs. One introduces children to governance. Another opens a door to coding. A third puts books within reach. The fourth addresses something as basic as a classroom bench. The fifth shows students where a career dream can lead.

The approach is also notable for using different partnerships rather than depending upon one large programme. Government departments, technology partners, NGOs and CSR support have been brought into different initiatives. The presentation says the combined interventions have reached thousands of students while strengthening digital literacy, civic responsibility, creativity and school infrastructure.

The Itarsi experience is still a local experiment, and its longer-term outcomes will need to be measured. But the early results offer ideas worth studying for wider adoption. Not every school requires the same intervention and not every district faces the same gaps. The larger lesson is simpler: improving education can also mean widening a child's world-giving a student a book, a bench, a digital skill, a look inside governance or simply a clearer view of what he or she can become.