From labourers' homes to IAS dreams: How a Moradabad school is changing children's lives

Atal Residential School in Moradabad offers children from workers' families free education, accommodation and other facilities. With 718 students currently enrolled, many are now dreaming of becoming IAS and IPS officers, judges, doctors and teachers.The school provides students with smart classrooms, hostel accommodation, meals, clean drinking water through RO facilities and playgrounds.Moradabad,Oct 30, 2026 18:07 ISTFor children growing up in families where parents work as labourers to make ends meet, getting access to quality education can be a challenge. The cost of private schooling, books, accommodation and other essentials can often put better educational opportunities out of reach.But at the Atal Residential School in Moradabad, children from workers' and economically weaker families are getting an opportunity to look beyond those limitations. With free education, accommodation, meals and other facilities, the school is helping students pursue ambitions that once seemed difficult to imagine.There are children here who want to become IAS and IPS officers, while others dream of becoming judges, doctors and teachers. For many, the change is not just about getting access to a better school. It is also about gaining the confidence to aim higher.The school currently has 718 students. Its residential arrangement allows children to live on the campus, where they have access to classrooms, accommodation, meals and facilities for extracurricular activities. SMART CLASSROOMS, HOSTELS AND FREE EDUCATIONThe school provides students with smart classrooms, hostel accommodation, meals, clean drinking water through RO facilities and playgrounds. Books and essential items required for hostel life are also provided free of cost.The aim is to ensure that children do not have to worry about the additional expenses that often come with education and can focus on their studies and overall development. Students are also encouraged to build their communication skills and develop a wider understanding of the world. During the visit, children were seen reading English newspapers, reflecting their engagement with learning beyond textbooks.The school plans to expand its capacity to accommodate around 1,000 students up to Class 12. Air-conditioning facilities are also planned to improve the campus infrastructure.FROM VILLAGE SCHOOLS TO BIGGER DREAMSFor several students, joining the residential school has brought a noticeable change in their educational environment and ambitions.Rajendra Kumar, a Class 8 student, earlier studied at a secondary school in his village. He says the facilities there were not comparable to what he has access to now. The better learning environment and residential facilities have allowed him to focus more on his education. He now dreams of becoming an IAS officer.For Lakshita, a Class 11 student whose father works as a labourer, the biggest change has been in her confidence. She says she had not thought much about pursuing ambitious career goals earlier and was unsure how she would achieve them. Access to better education and facilities has changed that outlook. She now wants to become a doctor in the Army.Ritika Chauhan, a Class 10 student from a labourer's family, says she had not expected to get an opportunity to study at a school with such facilities. She credits the initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the opportunity and hopes to become a teacher.Uday Pratap, a Class 11 student, points to the high fees charged by private schools, which can make quality education difficult to afford for many families. At Atal Residential School, he says, he is getting access to better educational facilities without placing that financial burden on his family. After gathering information about the available options, he chose the humanities stream. His ambition is to join the civil services and become an IAS officer.For Bhunesh, a Class 10 student whose father works as a mason, the school has opened up possibilities she had earlier worried might remain beyond her reach. She says she was often concerned about how she would continue her education and fulfil her ambitions. She now wants to become a judge.Divyanshi, a Class 9 student whose father is engaged in farming, earlier studied at a government school in her village. She says she had never imagined getting an opportunity to study at an institution with such facilities. The residential environment has given her a new direction, and she hopes to become an IPS officer.SCHOOL FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND OVERALL DEVELOPMENTPrincipal T.P. Singh says the school aims to provide children from workers' families with an environment where they can concentrate on education and work towards their future goals.Along with classroom learning, the institution focuses on providing accommodation, nutritious meals, clean drinking water, sports facilities, books and essential items for daily use. The residential model also allows students to remain in a structured academic environment.Administrative officer Umesh Kumar Tripathi is also associated with the school's functioning.The stories of Rajendra, Lakshita, Ritika, Uday Pratap, Bhunesh and Divyanshi highlight what access to educational opportunities can mean for children from families with limited financial resources. Their ambitions may be different, but they share a common starting point: an opportunity to study in an environment that encourages them to think beyond their circumstances.For these children, Atal Residential School is more than a place to study. It is an opportunity to imagine a future that once seemed difficult to reach.- EndsReported by Jagat Gautam