Ranchi: A homeopathic doctor, K P Dey, has been providing education to children of a city slum for over two decades. What began as a free school under a tree in the Jagannathpur slum in 1992 now serves the locality with a flexible, ‘pay-what-you-can’ fee structure, ensuring no child is denied an education due to financial constraints.Dey, aged around 63, founded the ‘Birsa Shiksha Niketan’ to provide education from pre-nursery to Class 5. “Parents pay as per their financial convenience; somebody gives Rs 50, some Rs 100. If they can’t pay, they don’t. But the society is supporting in every way possible for the education of their children,” he said.Over 600 students are enrolled in the school which has a mix of concrete and kutcha structures. Along with education, children are provided free music classes. Children studying in classes 6 to 10 also receive free coaching in the evenings. The school also houses a library containing over 30,000 books, accessible to students and slum residents at no cost.Dey’s journey began in 1982 when he travelled from Burdwan district in West Bengal to visit his brother, a civil engineer at Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd (HEC). A walk past the Jagannathpur slum on his way to the local Jagannath Temple changed his life. “I could not believe that people could live in such poor conditions. That is when I decided I need to do something about it,” he recalled.Despite opposition from his family, he moved to Ranchi. To survive, he gave tuitions for just Rs 5 per month while studying homoeopathic medicine.After completing his education, Dey used his earnings to fund his teaching. Starting with just four students under a tree, the number gradually grew to 40. Recognising his efforts, HEC officials provided him a room with an asbestos roof. As students increased, Dey continued to add makeshift rooms.Initially, parents were reluctant to send their children to school. “No one wanted their children to study, and convincing them was the most difficult part,” Dey said. Eventually, as the community witnessed the positive changes, mindsets shifted, and locals began contributing to the cause. Dey has so far transformed the lives of over 15,000 slum children. He also provided free treatment to slum residents.Principal Rita Sandhya Toppo has been with the school since it started functioning. Having visited Dey for medical treatment after completing her graduation in education, she was so moved by his mission that she joined him. R K Jha, who retired as chief of township from HEC in Dec 2025, now manages the library.Seema Devi, a former student who moved to Lohardaga after marriage, has returned to admit her son in the same school. “He will stay with his grandparents. I have faith in ‘Sir’ and I know my son will get a good education,” she said.Dey has only one request for society: donation of more books. He aims to stock the library with competitive examination materials and books for senior classes for those who cannot afford them.
