The Hindu : Kerala News : ‘Dream hut’ on a treetop

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Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009
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Kerala

‘Dream hut’ on a treetop

SIACHIN HUT: A tree hut constructed using eco-friendly materials by the students of Ananda Narayana Memorial Aided Upper Primary School at Gokhale Nagar, near Krishnagiri, in Wayanad district.

At first sight, an outsider would describe it as a tree hut or a tree house, but for the students of Ananda Narayana Memorial Aided Upper Primary School at Gokhale Nagar, near Krishnagiri, it is their ‘dream hut’ on a treetop.

The ‘Siachin Hut,’ ‘Swapnakoodu’ (Dream Nest), ‘Akashakottaram’ (Palace in the sky), as they call it, is a 100-sq.-ft. hut, nearly 50 ft. above the ground built using eco-friendly materials such as bamboo and hay.

Talking to The Hindu, P. Pradeep Kumar, a teacher at the school, said the students struck upon the idea during a study tour last year to the Kuruva islands where they experienced the charm of tree houses.

We put forward our idea at the Pupils-Parents-Teacher’s Association (PPTA) meeting, said Alan K. Binu, a Class VII student and president of the Vithum Kaikkottum Self Help Group (SHG) of the students of the school.

Though the PPTA agreed to the suggestion, it was not so easy to raise funds, said PPTA president K.P. Varghese. The cooperation extended by the Vithum Kaikkotum Self-Help Group, Chaithanya, a SHG of parents and teachers of the school and, of course, the villagers helped us realise our goal, said Headmaster of the school E.P. Sivadasan. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds were also used for construction activities, he said.

The construction materials, including bamboo poles and hay, were brought by the students from their house, said Mr. Pradeep Kumar.

“It took us more than two months to construct the tree house, and at a cost of Rs.40,000.”

The tree house contains an interesting mix of details of tourism destinations in the district, maps and drawings and other works of the children, all neatly arranged. Cotton quilts have been provided to take rest.

We use the tree hut as an open classroom for group activities, Mr. Pradeep said.

“It is enchanting to watch nature from ‘our Akasha Gopuram’ and it is fun to learn everything from here,” said a group of students of Class VII.

We have plans to rent it to tourists and for this purpose an attached bathroom is being constructed, Mr. Pradeep Kumar said.

E.M. Manoj

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