Primary Education Project (PEP) at Sarat , Mayurbhanj

On January 23, 2008, the day of Netaji Jayanti , Mr. Biswaranjan Jena , CE of ODIA SAMAJA along with the Chief Guest , Mr. Bhajahari Jena , an honorary & renowned retired primary school teacher arrived at the spot at around 11:45AM. They were also accompanied by two other gentlemen, Mr. B.K. Jena (Father of B.Jena) and Mr. Siva Biswal (Advocate friend of B.Jena from Nilagiri).

The guests were given a warm welcome by the students of Sarata Primary School, children and the Head Master (Mr. Pratap Chandra Tarari) of the school. After a brief informal discussion in the headmaster’s office about the general economic conditions and the education issues of the locality, the team was led to the venue of the meeting accompanied by few other dignitaries-amongst them Mr. Sanatta Kumar Karana ( Manager , Gramya Bank, Sarata ) and Mr. Masiha Mahanta ( The hardworking farmer of Sarata who benefited most from the just concluded oDiA samAja sponsored Agriculture project).

Inauguration Ceremony

The meeting commenced at about 1 P.M. with Mr. Ajit Kumar Patra, head master of Sarat High school in the chair. Upon the request of the chair, Mr. Baidya Singh provided the details to the audience in their local language as well as oDiA. Starting with a brief introduction of the guests, Mr. Singh spoke the projects – Primary Education Project ( PEP) and Water Development Project(WDP ). There after, Mr. Biswaranjan Jena was requested to inaugurate the proposed educational project that he did at around 1:30PM. There after , Mr . Patra provided a brief account of the proposed activities under the project.

Mr. Jena , then, addressed the gathering, He introduced oDiA samAja and my oDisA to the audience and briefly apprised them of the objectives and activities of the organizations. He spoke about the recently oDiA samAja / Orissa Business Initiative (OBI) supported Agriculture project with PfSEED and Mr. Baidya Singh including his recent visit to the site at Mulsingh near Soro. Mr. Jena shared his primary school days with the audience. He also informed them about the interest of the Non resident oDiAs and especially those who have supported the current projects in development of Orissa. At the end he thanked the project partners and the people present on behalf of OdiSA/Myodisa and all well wishers of these projects.
There after Mr. Bhajahari Babu was invited to speak , which lasted in and around another half an hour. On his speech he talked about Primary education, about Sarata , about Kaptipada , how it played a major role in support of Bagha Jatin etc. He mentioned how Kaptipada/Sarata has a links to our History/Purana. Also talked about Netaji and his dedication on bringing all Foreign Indian Troops together during the Independence struggle and compared with OdiSA/Myodisa commenting that it was encouraging to see our foreign Odia brother/sisters were getting together and working towards oDishA’s development. After his speech Mr. Patra ( the chair), provided a brief speech to the audience , how to take advantage of this project and what could be achieved by the Sarat’s children etc. At the end the check distribution ceremony was completed and the meeting was over around 3:30PM.

After the meeting, Mr. Biswaranjan Jena briefed the Media representatives from Sambad and Samaja and answered their queries regarding the projects, about the organizations, goal , objectives , about its members project cost etc. A lunch was arranged by Mr. Baidya Singh. During the informal discussions Mr. Jena was amazed at the enthusiasm the project had generated in the local people- especially the direct involvement of oDiA samAja/ my oDisA.

The project was being cordinated by Shri. Biswajit Mishra , Shri Prashant K Sahoo & Shri Satyranjan Dash, ODIA SAMAJA.

Odia samaja regrets to inform that , it has withdrawn from the Primary Education and Water Development Projects that Odia samaja supported in collaboration with Sustainable Rural Development Agency (SRADS) led by Baidya Singh at Sarat village in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Odia Samaja and SRADS, the inauguration was done on January 23, 2008 in the presence of our Odia Samaja Chief Executive . However, SRADS has not been able to meet its obligations in terms of meeting defined milestones and providing us suffcient feed back as laid out in the MOU. We have also learned from our enquiries that the progress of the project is not according to our understanding. In view of the above Odia samaja has decided to withdraw from the project.