The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : A unique transformation indeed

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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A unique transformation indeed

Correspondent

A couple’s endeavour makes school a model one

The school is located amid thick forest
Children are keen in joining the school

KORAPUT: “An individual’s noble aspiration could generate collective collaboration from masses.” This was true at least with the primary school of Siribeda village under Haladikund panchayat in Boipariguda block of Koraput district. The school amidst thick reserved forest of Gupteswar region on the boarders of Orissa and Chhattisgarh has seen a sea change over the last three years for its unique modes of giving care to the children of the region. Thanks to Kulamani Jena, a sikhya sahayak and his wife Nalini Swain, a para teacher who were instrumental in bringing the transformation, says Mangala Chelana, a villager from Siribeda.

The school, which was of a very little interest for the villagers in the past, has seen better days since the couple arrived in the village three years ago. The single room building has got additional rooms and a garden has come up in the front with well-built boundary and a tube well on the premises.

Perfect teaching

The strength of the school has gone up with 102 tribal children, mostly from Durua community, attending it regularly. The perfection of the school in imparting education for an integrated growth of children had attracted many from far off places in the deep forest so much so that the parents had asked the teacher couple to keep children in the school under their care. Looking at the interest among the children and their parents, the couple too agreed to keep a small number of children with them while sharing their personal fund, food and belongings with the children.

But with more and more children expressing their desire to stay back in the school as boarders, the teachers faced new problems as neither there was any hostel in the school nor any special provision to provide food for the children at night, says Mr. Jena.

However with the cooperation of the villagers, the school even without a sanctioned hostel had continued to house about 30 children who were attending the school from distant places, he adds. Now, that the school had gained momentum and acceptance among the tribal community, there was a need to extend supporting hand from the district administration by upgrading the school up to Class VII, say villagers.

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