Gajapati: The dream of state government to impart quality education in the educationally backward regions of the state, as part of its efforts to set up model schools is far from translating into reality. And what better to justify this than the model school in R Udayagiri block of Gajapati district where construction of the hostel building that started three years ago, yet languishes in neglect without completion.
The Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya in Chheligada inaugurated in 2016 has a strength of 304 students coming from different interior areas of the region.
However, guardians of these students have raised concerns over the lack of hostel facility in the school. This apart, difficulties in communication is another issue which is adding to the woes of these parents and their children.
“We are struggling each day due to lack of communication facilities here. There are hardly one or two buses available in the evening or else we travel by auto rickshaw. If the hostel work gets completed, our kids would get saved from this regular problem. As soon as it gets completed, it is good for our children,” said Rina Behera, a parent.
Nilamadhab Nayak, Member of the School Management Committee stated, “Girls are coming from faraway places and with the number of road accidents reported in the recent days, parents as well as the students are afraid of travelling in the buses every day. We demand immediate completion and execution of the hostel building for the safety of the school students.”
As per reports, the construction of the hostel building started after the Rural Development Department approved a fund of Rs 2.14 crore in 2016.
On the other hand, the Block Education Officer stated that problem in release of funds for the construction has delayed the completion of hostel building and informed that a decision in this regard has been made to finish it by July this year.
[caption id="attachment_288426" align="aligncenter" width="810"]
S Dhanurjay, BEO, R Udayagiri, said, "We are facing this issue due to delay in fund allotment. We have had a discussion with the department. If necessary, we will apprise the district administration about this matter. We will make sure all pending funds get released by June so that the hostel gets functional by July.”