With Inducements to Students Andhra Runs School Under Shed In Odisha Village

Jeypore: Amid the on-going tussle between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh over the borer disputes at Kotia group of villages in Koraput district, reports of the neighbouring state operating school in Odisha’s territory has surfaced.

The development has nevertheless rubbed further salt into the already open wounds of Odisha which is fighting a legal battle to resolve the long standing border controversy with its’ southern neighbour.

According to reports, Andhra Pradesh government is running a school with 17 Odia students under a makeshift shed at Patusuneri village in Koraput district. The neighbouring state has also appointed a teacher to look after five classes, from standard I to V.

Four children from Patusuneri village have enrolled in class-I while eight others from the village are studying in class-II. Similarly, class-III and class-IV have one and four students, respectively.

There are no students enrolled so far for class-V.

All the 17 students are availing benefits under various schemes of the Andhra government, said reports.

Sources said the students receive Rs 15,000 as annual stipend from the Government of Andhra Pradesh under the Amma Vodi Yojana, a scheme that is meant for educating children belonging to the economically weaker sections. The students also get books, study materials, dress and mid-day meal free of cost, their parents said.

All the children are imparted education in Telugu language, sources said.

Even though the school is functioning in the village right within Koraput district, the district administration seems to be unaware of the development, said reports.

Three days ago, a report of children from Odisha crossing over the State border to attend classes in schools in Andhra had grabbed headlines. The Telugu-speaking kids from border villages at Patrapur in Ganjam district have reportedly been attending classes in schools situated in the neighbouring state for last few months.

In a related development, the neighbouring State which successfully conducted panchayat polls on Friday, had received votes from 70 Odisha citizens who are the permanent residents of Galigabadar under Patangi block in Koraput district.

The matter came to light after the local tehsildar visited the village to conduct an inquiry. During his filed inspection, the local sarpanch, Sunil Khara reportedly confirmed that 70 villagers had in fact crossed the border to participate in the panchayat polls at Sariki panchayat in Andhra Pradesh.