Bhawanipatna: Odisha Government’s ‘Mo School’ programme has brought about a sea change in Government schools across Kalahandi with air-conditioned classrooms; open-air auditoriums, prayer halls and dining areas. Improved school infrastructure is translating into quality of education with better space and tools of learning.
At the Government Girls High School of Bhawanipatna, a 20,000 litre water tank and water purifiers have been installed. At Bagad High School in Kesinga, BM High School, Udaipur High School of Bhawanipatna, Hirapur High School in Jaipatna and Heramal High School in Kalampur block, air-conditioned smart classes, furniture, computers and internet facility have been set up, The Indian Express (TIE) reported.
Donations by alumni and the state government’s central corpus have made expedited the whole process.
Of the 2,257 government primary and high schools in the district, ‘Mo School’ programme has been implemented in 1,289 institutions and so far, Rs 3.67 crore has been donated by the alumni, the report added.
Bhawanipatna is on top of the list with Rs 68.96 lakh donated by alumni to 263 schools so far. Golamunda block’s Mahaling High School has received the highest, Rs 40 lakh in donations by its alumni.
Funds received under the scheme are being utilised for renovation and repair of buildings and construction of amenities like open-air auditoriums, science laboratories, smart classes, prayer halls, dining space, etc, district education officer Susanta Chopdar was quoted as saying.
The funds have helped in the electrification of 50 schools, tubewells being installed in 500, open-air auditoriums being constructed in 98 schools, prayer halls and cycle stands in 25 institutions, said the report.
Jaidurga High School at Narla Road even has a well-furnished science laboratory and its compound has been beautified.
Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, donations worth Rs 21.84 lakh were collected at 29 high schools in the district, Sukanta Sahoo, district coordinator of ‘Mo School’ told TIE.
More and more alumni are donating now, What is more, they are also competing with their former colleagues to ensure their alma mater gets the much-needed change.
In Thuamul Rampur block, Rs 1.62 lakh has been received in donation by the alumni of 17 institutions. There are 157 primary and 16 secondary schools in the remote block, the report added.
