Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Kolhapur Teacher Receives First-Ever Kind Teacher Award for Compassion
Sachin Kusnale is a teacher from Kolhapur who received a new award called the Kind Teacher Award.
He teaches children to be gentle and caring toward animals.
He tells students not to use dangerous kite strings that can hurt birds.
He also teaches them not to set off fireworks that frighten animals.
Sachin rescues snakes found near people’s homes and returns them safely to the wild.
He has written books about kindness, animals and nature.
Animal Rahat gave him the award because he helps students build a kinder society.
He says anyone can choose to be compassionate, regardless of wealth or position.
Sachin Kusnale received Animal Rahat’s first-ever Kind Teacher Award on Teacher’s Day 2026.
Kusnale teaches students at Vidya Mandir Ganeshwadi Mal School to show compassion toward animals and coexist with nature.
His lessons discourage glass-coated kite strings and fireworks because they can harm or frighten animals.
Kusnale also rescues snakes from human-inhabited areas and releases them into the wild.
Animal Rahat says its Compassionate Citizen workshops have reached around 70,000 children across Maharashtra.
- Who
- Sachin Kusnale, a teacher, author and snake rescuer, was honoured by Animal Rahat.
- What
- He received the first-ever Kind Teacher Award for teaching compassion toward animals and rescuing snakes.
- When
- September 3, 2026, on or around Teacher’s Day.
- Where
- Kusnale teaches at Vidya Mandir Ganeshwadi Mal School in Shirol, Maharashtra; the report identifies him as Kolhapur-based.
- Why
- He was recognised for encouraging students to protect animals, coexist with nature and build a kinder society.
- Award
- First-ever Kind Teacher Award
- Recipient
- Sachin Kusnale
- Awarding organisation
- Animal Rahat
- School
- Vidya Mandir Ganeshwadi Mal School, Shirol
- Animal work
- Rescues snakes from human-inhabited areas and releases them into the wild
- Animal Rahat workshops
- The Compassionate Citizen programme has reached around 70,000 children across Maharashtra
- Animal Rahat mechanisation project
- The organisation says it has influenced deployment of more than 18,850 tractors and 270 harvesters at 26 Maharashtra sugarcane factories since 2011