The Road to Eggore, Krishnagiri: What a Van, a Tribal Community and TNF Taught Me

A couple of weeks ago, I went on a trip to Krishnagiri, Salem and Namakkal, different districts in Tamil Nadu, visiting Government schools in the region. I have always wanted to travel across Tamil Nadu, and when this opportunity came from Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) to visit a few districts and capture what was happening on the ground, I immediately decided to take it on. The trip was hectic and not an easy one. However, I am really glad I travelled. It was a ton of learning, visiting different schools and interacting with students across different grades. One such experience that truly stood out was visiting the Government High School in Eggore, Krishnagiri, closer to Thirupathur than Krishnagiri, about 15 kilometres from Thirupathur, on one end of the district.

Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF)

The Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) is a non-profit organization based in the US, with a strong support staff and team in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu. TNF works with Government schools across the State, supporting them not just financially, but also on execution. They appoint teachers to train students in English, Math, Science and more. What makes TNF unique is how it operates: different cities across the US adopt a district in Tamil Nadu. The Austin Chapter, for instance, adopted a few schools in Krishnagiri District. Arun Arunachalam from the TNF Austin Chapter visited this school in Eggore last year, discovered the needs of the students and the school, and on his return to the US, worked with the TNF team and its Chennai staff to make things happen. TNF now provides a free van ride for the students of the neighbourhood.

About the School

The school is located in Eggore, at one end of Krishnagiri District. Though it sits on a two-and-a-half-acre property, it has only about 55 students in total, offering classes up to Grade 10. After 10th grade, students need to move to another school. This school could very easily expand to Grade 12, and with more outreach, student intake could grow significantly too.

Most parents who send their children here are daily labourers or participants in the Government’s 100 Day Work Scheme. They belong to the Irular community, இருளர் குடிமக்கள் (a part of பழங்குடி மக்கள்), a tribal community whose traditional occupation was catching snakes (பாம்பு பிடித்தல்). After the Government ban on this practice, their livelihoods have become difficult. They live in a tribal colony called Karakottai, in the Jawadhu Hills, very close to the forest, which you can see just by walking a few minutes from their homes. To reach school, the students need to walk 3+ km every single day.

Interaction with Parents and Kids

We left on Sunday (Feb 22, 2026) and stayed at Dev Paradise in Thirupathur. The next morning, we drove to the kids’ neighbourhood to meet parents and children before school started, a 10 to 15 minute drive on roads that were rough and hard on our vehicle. I was a little concerned during the drive, but reminded myself: this is the same path these students travel every day, back and forth.

The parents welcomed us warmly with coconut water (இளநீர்), which tasted wonderful, and were genuinely happy to see us.

The Van Ride

The van driver was a little over 20 years old. Before him, a retired veteran had held the role, and when he eventually stepped down, this young man took over. This is his way of giving back. He is happy to drive these kids to school because it is the very same school he studied in. There were 15+ kids in the van, with two trips made daily, morning and evening. This van sponsorship by TNF is a first of its kind in the area. Some children in the same neighbourhood still don’t attend school due to lack of transport, and this van could change that too.

The van ride reminded me of a book I once read by S. Ramakrishnan, நீலச்சக்கரம் கொண்ட மஞ்சள் பேருந்து (Neela Chakram Konda Manjal Perundhu).

Impact of TNF

Seeing TNF’s impact firsthand was deeply gratifying. A 3+ km walk is no small thing, and the risk of children discontinuing their studies, or girls facing early marriage, is very real. This van has changed a lot of things. The parents are thankful, the teachers are encouraged, and the students are showing up. TNF also supports the school with a dedicated teacher for English, Math and more. I genuinely enjoyed chatting with the students.

What More Can Be Done?

One thing I noticed across my interactions was that most students, barring a handful, showed signs of inadequate nutrition, stunted physical growth that was hard to miss. The students themselves had requests: snacks, a water purifier, a sports kit. They are aspirational, curious and full of potential. Nutrition and continued support could go a long way in helping them truly thrive.

Thank You

Grateful to Tamil Nadu Foundation, its President Manivannan Periakaruppan, Arun Arunachalam, Ravi Subramanyam and the TNF Chennai Team for facilitating this trip.  Thanks also to Lawrence Mani and Surya Prakash, who accompanied me through the entire journey, capturing these moments beautifully.

Organizations like TNF make a real difference in students’ lives, and I am grateful for this visit. I also plan to write about my visits to the other schools and share more learnings from the road.

Thank you for reading.