Kolhapur Teacher Wins Kind Teacher Award

On Teacher's Day, a Kolhapur-based school teacher, Sachin Kusnale, received the first-ever 'Kind Teacher Award' for his efforts in teaching students to co-exist with animals and rescuing snakes from human-inhabited areas.

Kusnale, a teacher, author, and snake rescuer, was felicitated by Maharashtra-based animal welfare organisation, Animal Rahat, for his work in building a kinder society. He has been teaching students at Vidya Mandir Ganeshwadi Mal School in Shirol to be compassionate towards animals.

According to Animal Rahat, Kusnale was selected for the award for weaving animal welfare into his lessons. He teaches children not to fly kites with glass-coated strings that harm birds and not to set off fireworks that terrify monkeys and dogs.

Apart from his own school, Kusnale also promotes Animal Rahat's work in other schools to grow a regional network of compassionate educators. He has authored books on the importance of not eating meat, being kind to animals, and living in harmony with nature.

Kusnale is also a trained snake rescuer and has relocated multiple snakes from human-inhabited areas and safely returned them to forests. Upon receiving the award, he said that kindness does not require wealth, power, or a special position, and every teacher has the power to plant that thought in the next generation.

Animal Rahat is known for working to replace bullock-driven carts with mechanised alternatives through its 'sugar factory mechanisation project' since 2011. It has influenced the deployment of over 18,850 tractors and 270 harvesters at 26 sugarcane factories of Maharashtra.

The NGO conducts free humane education workshops using a 'Compassionate Citizen' programme, to help students between 8 to 12 years of age to better understand and appreciate animals. It has reached around 70,000 children across the state.

The NGO's chief operations officer, Dr. Naresh Upreti, said that Kusnale teaches his students that every being deserves compassion and that each of us has a role to play in building a kinder world. Animal Rahat is proud to present him with the first-ever Kind Teacher Award and encourages other educators to follow in his compassionate footsteps.

This award recognises the importance of teaching compassion and animal welfare in schools. It highlights the need for educators to go beyond books and lessons to build a kinder world.

The work of Animal Rahat and teachers like Kusnale is crucial in promoting animal welfare and compassion in society. It is essential to recognize and appreciate their efforts in making a positive impact on the lives of animals and humans alike.

In conclusion, the Kind Teacher Award is a significant recognition of Kusnale's work in promoting animal welfare and compassion. It serves as an inspiration to other educators to follow in his footsteps and make a positive impact on society.