Why Are Students at This Odisha School Facing Daily Challenges?

In Talabasta, Odisha, the Bidyadharpur Government Primary School faces significant challenges due to inadequate infrastructure, affecting student enrollment and safety. Despite investments, the school remains waterlogged during the rainy season, lacks a boundary wall, and struggles with cleanliness issues. Parents and former students have raised concerns about safety and have sought help from local officials, but progress has been slow. This article delves into the struggles faced by students and the community's efforts to address these pressing issues.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 9, 2026, 10:31 IST

Ongoing Struggles at Bidyadharpur Government Primary School

By Subrat Kumar Nayak

In Talabasta, despite significant investments aimed at enhancing primary education in rural regions, students continue to face challenges due to inadequate infrastructure. A prime example is the Bidyadharpur Government Primary School located in Bidyadharpur village, within the Damapada block of Kataka district.

During the rainy season, the school grounds become waterlogged for almost four months. The absence of a permanent boundary wall has turned the school verandah into a refuge for stray animals, compelling students and staff to clean up animal waste each morning before classes commence.

Local residents have raised concerns that the school premises have become a hangout for individuals consuming alcohol in the evenings, which poses safety risks. Headmaster Shiva Prasanna Sahu noted that the school was founded on February 15, 1982, and while it once had over 250 students, enrollment has dwindled to just 118 due to ongoing issues.

An Anganwadi center operates on the same premises. Although classes begin at 10 AM, teachers and staff often spend nearly an hour clearing cow dung and tidying the area, leading to disruptions during morning prayers and the first two classes.

Bapi Sarkar, a former student and member of the school management committee, highlighted that the lack of a boundary wall allows stray cattle to enter and dirty the verandah. Parents from nearby villages have repeatedly approached local officials, including the legislator and education officers, but no action has been taken.

Sisir Kumar Das, a former president of the school management committee, mentioned that the school received a grant of Rs 2.50 lakh about 18 months ago, but work was halted due to a dispute with the contractor. Consequently, the trenches dug for the boundary wall have filled with rainwater and soil, and there are rumors that materials meant for the wall have been diverted to other projects.

Currently, there are six children in the Anganwadi center and 24 students enrolled in the newly established Shishu Vatika on the school grounds. Mamali Sahu, a worker at the Shishu Vatika, expressed that without a boundary wall, much of her time is spent supervising the children. During rainy days, cooks prepare vegetables for midday meals outdoors as the school kitchen lacks a proper shelter.

Teacher Gagan Kumar Behera suggested that the new school committee should construct a verandah with a tin or asbestos roof adjacent to the kitchen. Although the school has received over Rs 1 lakh for new toilets, the existing facilities for boys and girls are in a state of disrepair.

Students depend on tubewell water for drinking, but there is no water purification system in place. Parents are increasingly worried about the lack of a boundary wall, deeming the school unsafe, which has led them to enroll their children in other institutions, according to former student Akshaya Kumar Behera. Alok Kumar Sahu, a representative of Talabasta’s sarpanch, chose not to comment. When reached for a statement, Assistant Block Education Officer Prafulla Kumar Behera mentioned that a new Block Education Officer would be appointed shortly but refrained from further comments.