Periyapatna School among three selected in Karnataka as Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya for 2025-26
By A. Ganesh
At times when Government Schools are on the verge of closer either for low admission rate or for poor maintenance, here is a Government School which has emerged as model for State-run schools throughout the State. The Attigodu Government High School, located in Periyapatna taluk of Mysuru district, has bagged national recognition — Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya — a nationwide initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, aimed at building clean, green and sustainable school environments.
Well-maintained garden area of the school.
A total of 20 schools from the State had been shortlisted for award for the year 2025-26. Following a detailed examination of the criterion, Government High School, Attigodu, along with Government Lower Primary School at Mulkadu-Yellare in Udupi district and Government Higher Primary School, Kannamangala in Bengaluru Rural district were selected for the prestigious award.
GROWING THEIR OWN VEGGIES: Students planting the saplings at school garden as part of their farming classes.
The Government High School, Attigodu, had registered for the award during August last year. The schools applying for the award must comply with 60 specific indicators to promote cleanliness, hygiene and environmental consciousness. Later, the institutions must self-assess and upload photographic evidence across six core categories on the official portal. Following this, the schools will be assessed at the taluk, district and State levels before entering the national level contest.
Students with cauliflowers grown in the campus.
On being selected for the national level, the members of Award Committee visit each individual school and closely evaluate photographic evidences provided by the institutions before giving them the ratings. The Government High School, Attigodu, had received a total of 93 points out of 100 during the evaluation.
A model school
The Government High School, Attigodu, has not just given importance for maintaining clean environment for the sake of winning an award, but has been a model school for the co-ordination between Head Master, School Development Management Committee (SDMC) members, alumni students and villagers.
Mid-day meal preparation
While it is common in most of the Government Schools to prepare the mid-day meal either from Government grants or funds pooled in by teachers, the speciality of Attigodu School is that the vegetables are grown at the school premises. The school has its own garden where not only vegetables but fruits are also cultivated. The management committee and teachers have ensured to introduce farming culture along with education for students which would help them in the future. This school was started in 2012 with 22 students. Today, it has a total of 204 students with four permanent teaching staff and three guest teachers.
Apart from SDMC members, alumni students and villagers, this school has also been receiving donations from generous philanthropists which has helped school to flourish among all Government Schools in the district.
Attigodu School is one among the model schools in the State. The efforts of Head Master Nagashetty has ensured that the school develops into a good institution. Villagers, alumni and SDMC members have also co-operated with school administration. We will replicate innovative measures in other schools across the district.
—D. Udaykumar, DDPI Mysuru
It is a proud moment that the school has been recognised at the national level. The credit must go to the villagers, alumni, SDMC Members and donors for extending their co-operation in all our endeavours.
—Nagashetty, Head Master, Government High School, Attigodu
This post was published on July 23, 2026 7:30 pm