In Raibah, a remote village in Meghalaya’s Mawsynram, the Raibah Government Lower Primary School, once a dilapidated relic, now buzzes with children’s laughter, thanks to teacher Batskhem Thabah’s inspiring leadership. Since his 2021 posting, Thabah turned the crumbling, monsoon-battered school—marked by cracked walls and a leaky roof—into a thriving “green school” through community effort and innovative teaching.

Facing a near-abandoned campus post-COVID, Thabah cleaned the grounds, planted flowers, and funded a second teacher’s salary himself. His sustainable approach used bamboo tubes for pencil cases and areca leaves for plates, blending science with gardening and language with storytelling. “The students became caretakers,” Thabah told PTI, noting their role in daily chores and community-building, like visiting a sick classmate.

With crowdfunding led by friend Ibarihun Majaw, raising funds in a week, and a local entrepreneur’s roofing aid, villagers rebuilt the school, adding bamboo fencing and renovating an Anganwadi centre for extra space. Thabah’s partnership with St Edmund’s College introduced TALES, enhancing learning with outdoor activities. The Owl Library donated 100 books, and a 2024 Green Hub x Royal Enfield grant established the Raibah Living Library, preserving Khasi heritage.

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Despite Thabah’s 2023 transfer, the school, now 75 years old, thrives with 53 students and two teachers, fostering a reading culture and conservation efforts. Village headman Pynshailang Dohling said, “Raibah is a community transformed.”

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