https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Enhancing Reading and Writing Skills of Tribal Students in Gajapati

As a part of the Gajapati Shiksha Aarohan Programme, DM Lingraj Panda is setting up colourful libraries in the district. These libraries are packed with colour-coded books for children of all ages. The idea is to enhance the reading and writing skills of tribal students as well as their imagination and creativity.
Indian Masterminds Stories

When it came to the Gajapati District administration’s notice that students from their tribal residential schools are unable to read, write, and narrate properly, they decided to do something about it. Under the guidance of the District Collector of Gajapati, IAS officer Lingraj Panda, District Welfare Officer Santosh Rath, and PA ITDA Falguni Majha, OAS, the administration decided to hold story-telling and writing sessions for the young kids, to help them develop their own reading and writing skills.

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Panda shared details about the project.

LACK OF READING/WRITING SKILLS

Being a tribal-dominated district, Gajapati has numerous Tribal Residential Schools, which are run by the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes Development Department. Also called ‘Ashram Schools’, these institutions primarily address the educational needs of tribal children, where they are provided boarding and lodging facilities until they complete their secondary education.

“We realized that there was a dissonance in the ability to create a narrative and speak it out amongst the children from tribal residential schools. Students from sixth grade could not even achieve the reading and writing skills of a third grader, which resulted in a major dropout rate down the line, especially among girl students,” shared Mr. Panda.

STORYTELLING AND WRITING

The officer understood that the best way to help these kids in reaching to a certain level of narration would be to involve them in the method of story-telling of their own environment. For that to happen, they needed to create a proper atmosphere in the school libraries, which was child friendly and could attract as many students as possible.

For this, each school has put up a special library room that has been decorated and painted with various themes. Numerous books have been stored in the library, primarily pictorial ones. All the books have been colour coded according to the age of the students. The children pick up any book and read loudly before other students and the teacher. If the teacher detects any pronunciation errors, she corrects the student accordingly.

“For very young ones, we have stored mainly pictorial books in the library as they are not yet accustomed to reading, and for the older kids, colourful story books with pictures and narratives have been stored in the place,” he told Indian Masterminds.

AN EDUCATIONAL ATMOSPHERE

Once the students have picked their book and read it aloud in the class, they are advised to do story-telling where they are asked to narrate the story again, in their own words, or add something creative to the story that they read and share it with the class.

“This helps in developing strong ideational creation, dramatization, and story-telling skills in the students. It also helps in building a child’s imagination,” shared the officer.

Furthermore, the students also make artworks of their stories by converting their narration into drawings and paintings. This strongly builds not only their intelligence but also their creativity. The administration has also set up a television in the library, where the students watch educational videos and channels.

SUCCESSFUL PROJECT

The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Paralakhemundi, has provided funds to paint the library rooms and buy furniture and books for them. They also provided teachers with training so they could assist the students with storytelling and writing, before the initiative was launched, three months ago.

The libraries also have a dedicated ‘Art Corner’ where the best stories and their best artwork is exhibited for everyone to see. The entire environment is made in a fashion where students can make their imaginations run.

“It is a hierarchy-free environment where you will find everybody on the same level. The rooms are well-lit and well-ventilated. These colourful libraries have been set up in over 50 residential schools as of now. Students generally visit the library on weekends to practice story-telling, writing, and drawing,” Mr. Panda told Indian Masterminds.

The officer expects that with the setting up of these libraries, the district will witness a fall in dropout rates and a rise in educational development, as the basic foundation of a child’s education will get strengthened through the cognitive connection of ideation and story-telling, and the understanding of science and technology.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
UPSC Image IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE-2024 Results Out: Top 2 Places Bagged By Girls, Shakti Dubey AIR 1, Check Details Here
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Bhuwan Chandra Pathak to Continue as Director (Finance) at NPCIL - Know More About him
coal-India limited
Coal India Signs MoU with DVC to Set Up ₹16,500 Crore Ultra Supercritical Power Plant in Jharkhand
delhi-government-resized
Delhi Government Revises Office Timings as Pollution Levels Drop
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
Court Denies Anticipatory Bail to Former IFS Officer in SRLM Scam
psuwatch_import_wp-content_uploads_2022_02_RBI-recruitment-2019
Minors Above 10 Can Now Open and Operate Bank Accounts Independently: RBI
Inter caste marriage promotion scheme
Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme: Financial Aid of Rs 2.5 Lakh Granted to Two Couples
KVIC Khadi and Village Industries
Khadi and Village Industries Achieve Historic Growth, Sales Cross ₹1.70 Lakh Crore in 2024-25
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
images (14)
Utsav Anand, the UPSC Topper Who Chose Public Service Over a Plush Career
From IIT Bombay to the 2022 IAS batch (Haryana cadre), Utsav Anand’s journey is proof that sharp minds...
pushplata-yadav-ias
How IAS Pushp Lata’s Strategy and Spirit Took Her to AIR 80
From rural Haryana to IAS, Pushp Lata Yadav’s journey reflects focused planning, adaptation, and the...
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
UPSC Image IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE-2024 Results Out: Top 2 Places Bagged By Girls, Shakti Dubey AIR 1, Check Details Here
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Bhuwan Chandra Pathak to Continue as Director (Finance) at NPCIL - Know More About him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT