Kuanrmunda: In a heartwarming story of compassion, a few teachers have given a new lease of life for several orphans by ensuring education and shelter for them at Kumujharia Upgraded High School under Kuanrmunda block in Sundargarh district.
The teachers are reportedly paying out of their own pocket for the children’s daily needs and other expenses.
Headmaster Sanjay Kumar Samal said he spends most of his salary on the studies and monthly expenses of the students under his care. Samal proudly claims that he will continue to be the students’ guardian even after they leave the school for higher studies.
Jogeshwar Ray, warden of the boys’ hostel and his counterpart Sasmita Parija of the girls’ hostel ensure that all the needs of the children are met and make it a point to make certain that they don’t feel abandoned.
Milan Barua, a Class-VI girl student, said her father died when she was only a year old. Her mother had to toil to raise her and her four siblings (four sisters and a brother). However, in a cruel turn of fate, her mother too died three years after the death of her father leaving them alone to fend for themselves.
Initially, her brother used to work as a labourer to feed them but he too gave up soon due to his meagre income. Later, her maternal uncle got her admitted to this school. She has been studying at this school by living at the hostel and has not gone home since.
She has made the school her home while her teachers take care of all her needs, Barua said. A native of Chanabahal village near Biramitrapur under Raiboga police limits, Barua has been studying here since Class I by living at the hostel of this school.
Barua is not the lone example – there are several others like her who have been studying in this school under the tutelage and care of their teachers.
Another orphan girl Sabitri Jaypuria said her father went missing when she was only 2 years old and since then he has remained untraceable. Her mother died three years after her father went missing. She was worried as there was no one to take care of her.
She came to study at a school in Haladia Dafei with the help of co-villagers when a person noticed her plight and got her admitted to this school. The school headmaster and other teachers are incurring all her expenses and have turned things around for her.
Krishnakant Mundari of Class-IX has a similar tale to tell. Apart from these three, there are nine more orphans for whom the headmaster and teachers are their saviours.
This apart, there are about 40 students whose fathers have died while 10 others have lost their mothers at a very tender age. The school has a strength of 1,148 students including these orphans.
Among them, 95 per cent of the students are tribals. The teachers have taken a pledge to identify orphan children or those who have lost either their father or mother and admit them at this school. Even children who are unable to attend school due to lack of money are also given admission in this school. PNN
