a day ago
Power connection breathes life into Ramsing Chapori school
Guwahati: In the heart of Ramsing Chapori, nestled along the winding Bonda's Chapaidong road in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district, a wave of joy and swept through the village on Friday as the community school finally got electrified after years of darkness.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The Ramsingh Narjagaran Primary School, once known as LP Kamakhya Hindi School, was established in 1997. For decades, it stood as a testament to resilience, operating without electricity and lacking even the most basic infrastructure. The school, with its crumbling walls and empty classrooms, was a silent witness to the dreams of children who yearned for a better future.
"The entire area was in a very poor condition," recalled Dhrubajit Kakoti, the sub-divisional officer of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), Narengi.
"There was no scope for establishing an electricity connection for the school, and the residents hadn't applied for one either." It wasn't until 2017 that the electrification process began in the village, a slow but steady march towards progress that finally reached completion in 2022.
But the school got power connection on Friday.
For villagers like Santosh Mahato, the school was more than just a building; it was a symbol of hope.
Yet, it was a hope that seemed to dim with each passing year. The school, which now serves around 40 students, once lacked even the most basic facilities. Students endured harsh conditions, their education a daily struggle. This led to dwindling attendance and a mass exodus of teachers, leaving the school a shell of its former self.
"The villagers had been taking care of the institution," Mahato explained, "but without a proper system and govt recognition, the school became a hub for anti-social activities."
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Munshilal Mahato, a former teacher, shared the heartache of watching the school decline. "There were once hundreds of students," he reminisced, "but they began leaving for nearby private and govt schools, three to four kilometers away, due to the lack of a proper system. Eventually, the school became just a remnant of the villagers' efforts and had to be shut."
But the spirit of the villagers is unyielding. They are determined to breathe new life into their beloved school.
In partnership with a local NGO, they are working tirelessly to rebuild the school's infrastructure and create a nurturing learning environment. Their vision includes additional classrooms, upgraded facilities, and the introduction of smart classes with digital learning tools. These efforts aim to make the school eligible for govt recognition and better suited to meet the needs of its students.
The school, which began as a Hindi-medium institution founded by Rambahadur Mahato and Bijli Mahato, has since transitioned to an Assamese medium, reflecting the community's commitment to preserving their local language and culture.
As the first flicker of electricity illuminates the school, it symbolizes more than just light; it represents a new dawn for Ramsing chapari, a promise of brighter days ahead for the children and the community that holds them dear.
