Bantala Nodal High School Losing Credibility Among Students, Parents

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Bantala Nodal High School in Angul district is losing credibility among students and guardians due to shortage of teachers over the years.

The school is going without a headmaster for months and the post of PCM teacher has fallen vacant for over two years. The authorities, it is alleged, have not yet decided to appoint a headmaster ever since the incumbent retired. The PCM teacher was deputed elsewhere two years ago without minding about the consequences it will have on teaching.

The school Managing Committee sources said resolutions were passed and forwarded to appropriate authorities for early posting of headmaster and required teaching staff, but to no avail. The sources said the sitting MLA Rajanikant Singh has also been requested to look into the matter, but it has gone unheeded.

Shortage of teaching staff has allegedly cast it adverse impact on attendance as a number of students have preferred to take admissions in nearby educational institutions for better schooling. Guardians alleged that it is true that the school has been transformed under 5T, but teaching has become a victim. The high school which was built in 1960, has acquired a new avatar of late, but the days are not far ahead when it will be left with a few students, they said wryly.

The Managing Committee sources further complained that teaching staff apart, the posts of clerk and night watchman have also fallen vacant for over seven years. While the clerk has been deputed to other school, the night watchman is posted at Block Education Office in Angul, the sources added.    

Farmers' Awareness Programme On Aromatic Crop Production

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Scientists urged farmers of the state to boost their yield with the adoption of modern technology and take up cultivation of aromatic plants for a number of benefits.

A farmers' awareness and training programme was jointly organized by scientists of National Institute of Plant Biotechnology (NIPB), New Delhi and Central Institute of Aromatic Medicinal Plants, Lucknow at Pabitra Mohan Institute of Technology (PMIT), Talcher on July 11 and 12.

Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, former Union Minister of State for Agriculture Dr Debendra Pradhan, urged the farmers to adopt novel technologies for multiplying agricultural production for a sustainable growth of the agrarian sector. Dr Pradhan lauded the efforts of the scientists of NIPB who have been striving their best to develop novel methods for boosting crop production in the country. He said raising of aromatic plants help protect other crops from being destroyed by animals.

Chairperson of Vikash Trust, Mridula Pradhan, urged women cultivators to acquire the know how to benefit immensely in farming and said they must take the lead. Principal scientist of Central Institute of Aromatic Medicinal Plants, Dr Prashant Kumar Rout, explained how farming of aromatic plants, lemon grass, pamarosa and Tulsi will greatly benefit the agrarian community in the state.

The programme was graced by Director, NIPB, Ajit Kumar Shasany, Principal Scientist Ashwini Nanabare, scientists of Krushi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Dhenkanal and Angul districts, Bimalendu Mohanty and Debashish Mishra and Science Communicator Laxminarayan Boxi.

Nearly 200 farmers were distributed with mango saplings, high yielding paddy and lemon grass. The programme was moderated by Satya Prakash Nayak with the cooperation of PMIT staff.