RONGLI, DECEMBER 16: A little over two-hour long walk from the nearest motorable newly constructed road through the forest of singing birds is a place where Pacha Saraswati Primary School is situated. This school at North Regu could be one of the furthest situated government schools in East Sikkim. The nearest ration shops of Rongli bazaar are more than a 3-4 hour downwalk for the villagers of this world, and a labourer payment for a sack of rice is Rs 400. The Pacha Saraswati Primary School, in the 37th year of its establishment, celebrated its first-ever annual day function with much fanfare and joy on December 14 at its school.
The major highlight of the day-long school function was the felicitation of Birtaman Rai, the school's land donor, and Padam Bahadur Rai, the President of the first school committee. The best-performing students from Class I to Class V were also given certificates and prizes. The young students also performed a cultural program. On that occasion, SPARK NGO from Singtam distributed blankets to the 15 families affected by the earthquake. Those blankets were sponsored by the Sikkim State Bank Employees Coordination Committee.
Chador Bhutia, AD, HRDD, Regu BAC, was the Chief Guest on the occasion, which also included LB Gurung, Panchayat President, KB Gurung, ex-sr. accountant PWD, KB Rai, ex-chairman PWD, Prakash Poudhyal, Krishna Dawari, CRCs, and SSA Staff Regu BAC. Villagers from the nearby regions attended the programme in large numbers.
Chador Bhutia, AD, HRDD, Regu BAC, visited the school premises that were affected by the recent 18/9 Sikkim Earthquake. The students' arts and crafts were also displayed, and everyone appreciated them.
The program started with the welcome speech of Dinesh Bhattarai, PRT, who was also the host of the day. AK Gupta, Headmaster of Pacha Saraswati Primary School, presented his annual report. In his speech, HM informed the gathered crowd that the school has 37 students and 3 staff. CCE had been implemented from the month of March with satisfactory results found in all the activity works, he said.
Pacha Saraswati PS participated in PYKKA sports, celebrated Independence Day at Rongli, celebrated Teachers Day and National Education Day, conducted an Educational Tour, and participated in different co-curricular and social-related activities, including cleaning the village path and maintaining an alternate bamboo bridge along the steam after the old broken bridge, explained Gupta.
Proper utilization of SSA funds according to government norms was also explained, including purchasing timber to make a Blackboard, Audio-Video TV, and Sound System for school cultural programs, reading materials for students for CCE work, and others. If proper electrification was made, the purchase of a Computer for the next session was also informed.
The school's problems were also brought before the Assistant Director, HRDD, Regu BAC. These included water scarcity, damage to the mid-day meal kitchen, fencing of the school compound, a request for a difficulty allowance, separate toilets for boys and girls, male and female teachers, LPG for mid-day meal cooking, and repair of the school building after the 18/9 Sikkim Earthquake.
The best-performing students, Anjali Rai (Class I), Harun Gurung (Class II), Santosh Gurung (Class III), Anil Gurung (Class IV), and Saran Gurung (Class V), were given prizes from the hands of distinguished guests present on the occasion.
In his speech, Chador Bhutia, AD, HRDD, Regu BAC, expressed happiness and appreciated the school for organizing such a wonderful program. He assured the audience, including the school staff, SMC, and local villagers, that he would solve the drinking water problem and provide separate toilets for boys and girls. Bhutia informed us about the HCM Merit Scholarship for Class V topper local students who had been studying in the government school of Sikkim from the early stages to Class V. He talked about the “Right To Education” and requested parents and students to take it positively. The Residential Bridge Course for dropout students at Khamdong for the students of East Sikkim was also informed.
LB Gurung, Panchayat President, appreciated the standard maintained by the school authorities and wished them the best wishes in the near future. Gurung informed me about early education in this region and how it has come to today. KB Gurung, former Sr. Accountant PWD, also appreciated the work of AK Gupta and his team in making an example school despite facing several hurdles on their way. Gurung announced a Rs 600 per annum scholarship for the best student of Class IV and Class V till Class VIII.
Praveen Pradhan, President of SPARK NGO from Singtam, could not hide his enjoyment in watching a Class II studying boy playing a Congo instrument at the welcome song presentation. I am at a loss for words, Pradhan said. All credit to the Headmaster and the school staff, he went on to add.
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