Good Education Year Begins with RTE and ICDS Campaign in Belpada Block
The new Academic Year starts from 1st April every year. It is the time when students are anxious to join in their new class as they have passed and have been promoted. Thus, School and mass education department, Govt. of Odisha have introduced the ‘Prabesh’ utsav to be celebrated in each school with a view to welcome to all the newcomers to the school with flowers, chandan and kumkum. This is really a memorable day for all newcomers to the school.
To make more memorable to this occasion Bolangir Bikash Parishad (BBP) under EU-Agragamee Information Project observed the day with special attraction. In the school, special village parikrama/rally was organised with placard, banner, slogans and posters. Leaflets were distributed and posters were pasted in different central places of the villages. In this programme the School Management Committee (SMC) members, teachers, students, PRI members, IDCs and comminity leaders took an active part. The RTE and ICDS information materials were distributed and discussed. Bolangir Bikash Parishad (BBP) covered 25 schools under this programme and wish the school children for good yaer beginning. As a result the following results were obtained. Read More>>
Parajasila’s Villagers Solved Incomplete School Building Issues
More than 130 families live in 4 hamlets of Parajasila village. There is a primary school up to 5th class here. In the school there is one classroom, one kitchen room, a store room, an incomplete toilet besides the two more incomplete classrooms that are in front of the old building. Out of this one is under construction since 2007-8 while the other was from 2012. In the single classroom total of 50 school children sit together while in school verandah children of 2 classes sit and study. So, the school has had a total of 70 children with 2 teachers.
Since the implementation of EU-Agragamee Information project in January 2014 the village the villagers had raised the issues of incomplete school building in the meetings that followed thorough the year but remained silent on taking any steps or suggestion given to them. After the formation of Block level Citizen Action Group in 21-22 December 2014 the CAG members of Parajasila village attended a number meeting, training and orientation programmes at Agragemee and were sensitizing the villagers about how to take up different village issues as was guided previously. So, when we discussed the incomplete school issues with them they said the villagers would definitely take up the issue come whatever may. Read More>>
A One-Day Workshop on MGNREGA
Kantabaji, 14/4: A one-day workshop on MGNREGA was organised in Kharbahali village, Bharuapali GP of Belpada block under Bolangir district, by the EU-Agragamee Information (“Addressing Nutritional & Income Insecurity of Underpriviliged Communities by Improving Access to Relevant Government Schemes”)Project’s Bolangir district partner organisation Bolangir Bikas Parishad in Kantabanji of Belpada block. The basic objective of the workshop was to discuss the rules and different provisions of MGNREGS Act and to focus on how to make the MGNREGA people centric to provide benefits to the poor.
The participants included MGNREGA labourers from different villages of Bharuapali GP. Noted local social worker Makunda Karuan joined the workshop as a ‘resource person’. Retired teacher Akul Banagola encouraged the labourers to take advantage of the immense employment benefits of the above Act. The Bongomunda block coordinator, Jayanta Bag, discussed on different issues concerning migrant labourers and sensitise the labourers on rules and facilities of MGNREGA. Bolangir Bikas Parishad’s Director Mukund Sahu gave the welcome address and explained the participants about the goal and objectives of the training workshop. Belpada Sachetaks Buddha Banagola and Kailash Hati helped in the management of the workshop till the end. Read More>>
Durkhal Primary School Becomes Regular after Villagers’ Intervention
Durkhal is a small revenue village of Chandragiri GP in Kashipur block under Rayagada district, Odisha. Most of the villagers are tribal. They are very poor and illiterate. A total of 110 families live in the village. There is very little agricultural land in the village. The farming on the hills is the only source of subsistence. The illiteracy and malnutrition in the village especially among the mothers and children are clearly visible in their face.
There is one Primary School and an Anganwadi centre in the village. But none of them were functional for years together. In the school 2 teachers had been appointed and a total of 55 children were studying in different classes up to 5th Standard. The villagers were also silent about both the school and AWC being ignorant of Govt. provisions, rules and regulations, roles and responsibilities of the School and AWC Committee members. There was no school and no scope of MDM for village children.
Agragamme Case Stories
The MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) is supposed to provide at least 100 days of assured employment to the unskilled in rural areas, facilitating a measure of economic security, and overall village development by enabling people to plan for their village development works. However, lack of proper planning and coordination at district, Block and Gram Panchayat level defeats these noble objectives of the Act. In the village of Manikjhola, in Rayagada District, Odisha, Shankar Meleka was determined to address this situation in a very decisive way, and ensured payment to all labourers, even though it involved a long and protracted struggle. Read More>>