Education at Dharmasthala is seen as the most powerful weapon against poverty and ignorance, a belief inherited from Late Shri Manjayya Heggade. As the namesake, Vidyadana is not merely about building schools, it’s about illuminating minds, transforming lives, and breaking cycles of poverty through knowledge. Started with Siddhavana and Rathnamanasa Gurukula, SDME Society today governs 56 institutions spanning kindergarten to doctoral studies, spearheading a unique educational movement in Karnataka, bringing quality education to rural and backward regions.
The Accessibility Revolution:
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- Institutions deliberately established in educationally backward rural regions like Ujire, Belthangady Taluk, helped in transforming a forgotten stopover to an educational hub.
- Free hostel facilities are provided for meritorious students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, while scholarships and financial support ensure no deserving student is turned away due to poverty.
Impact on Rural Karnataka:
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- Over 2.3 million people lifted out of poverty through education, skill development, and self-employment training.
- Rural youth who would have never accessed higher education now pursue professional degrees without leaving their communities.
