Iconic Odiya School cries for attention in Jharkhand’s Chakradharpur

Ranchi: 129-year-old Odiya school established in Kera village of Chakradhapur in West Singhbhum by Kera King and 11th President of Utkal Sammelani – Raja Saheb Lakshmi Narayan Singhdev of Kera Estate with the help of Utkal Mani Gopobandhu Das struggling for existence due to government’s poor respect for National Education Policy, which talks about giving primary education to all children in their mother tongue.

A locality resident Subhash Das informed this explaining the pathetic condition of the century old inconic temple of education in Jharkhand.

“There is a deep gap between planning and implementation in Jharkhand Education Project. Despite the whole system being put in place to bridge it, the result is zero. The Education Project Council had directed to demolish the dilapidated buildings of a total of 4431 schools for the safety of children. On receiving departmental instructions, the schools were identified, in which 3428 schools were instructed to be demolished for the safety of children. On receiving departmental instructions, the school buildings were demolished in a hurry, but in many places, after demolishing them, they forgot to rebuild. The latest example is of Kera Odiya Madhya Vidyalaya – Chakradharpur. Six rooms of this school were demolished in 2019 after declaring them dilapidated. Five years have passed since these six rooms were demolished, but the building has not been constructed. Due to non-construction of new buildings, children are forced to study under the verandah of the school,” the resident said.

School’s principal in-charge Sheela Kumari confirmed the fact. “After the demolition of the school building in the year 2019, correspondence has been done dozens of times with the senior officials of the department regarding the problems being faced by the children due to the non-construction of a new building, but the result is still zero. Those who have requested for help included Regional Education Extension Officer, Block Education Extension Officer, District Education Officer besides others,” she said.

Das said: “Odiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Kera impart education upto class VIII. The school earlier had 10 rooms, out of which six rooms were demolished. Out of the remaining four rooms, classes are held in two. One of the remaining two rooms has a science and math lab, while one room has been made an office and a store room for Mid Day Meal (MDM). Due to lack of rooms, children are taught under a tree when the weather is good or in the verandah during rainy season. Seeing the condition of the school, the children from the surrounding area are not taking admission now. Earlier there were 363 children in the school, which has reduced to 222. This school is the oldest Odiya school in entire Jharkhand/Bihar and West Bengal.”

Descendant of Raja Saheb Lakshmi Narayan Singhdeo, Deepak Singh Deo, confirmed the fact expressing his concern over the situation.

” I personnaly took initiative for construction of class room but except assurance got nothing. My sentiment is associated with this school as my great grandfather had donated land for the school. His intention was ensure proper education to poor children. The school opened by my grand father in the year 1895 was got registered in the year 1912 with the help of Utkal Mani Gopobandhu Das,” he said.

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