In a departure from the clamour for English medium education in well-known institutions, a District Collector in Tamil Nadu has chosen to admit his daughter to a panchayat union primary school here that has also brought much-needed attention to the needs of the school.Taking the school officials by surprise, Erode District Collector R Anandhakumar last week walked into the Tamil medium school at Kumuilankuttai here along with his wife and met the headmistress and enrolled his six-year-old daughter A Gopika after completing due formalities.According to school authorities, the girl would partake in the free midday meal as wished by the Collector.The presence of the Collector's daughter has also led to better upkeep of basic sanitary facilities in the school with local officials going the extra mile in paying special attention to them.The sanitary staff have been visiting the school premises and keeping the surroundings clean and spraying disinfectants. School toilets are also being cleaned twice a day, besides ensuring adequate water supply.The move has also improved the punctuality of the teachers while the parents of other students have been asked not to spit or throw any waste near the premises, school officials said.

The Collector, a veterinarian, has told the school authorities to treat his daughter as any other child and allow her to mingle with other students.Anandhakumar has declined to speak about his decision to enroll his daughter in the panchayat school.