Barbil: The DAV Bolani School, previously operated by Bolani Minerals, has entered a new chapter as it is officially handed over to the DAV College Trust and Management, New Delhi. Following the signing of an agreement between Bolani Minerals and the Trust, the school transfer ceremony took place on Wednesday.
Established in 1972 by Bolani Minerals, the school initially served as a hub of education for students from Classes 1 to 10 in Hindi and Odia mediums. Over time, a critical shortage of permanent teachers emerged, leading Bolani Minerals to halt new appointments. This resulted in deteriorating educational standards and left the school in dire circumstances. At one point, there was only one teacher for 250 primary students.
In 2014, a meeting of the RPDAC (Revenue District Planning and Development Council) shed light on the school’s plight. Advocacy by Bolani Development Council, Basundhara, and local administrative bodies brought attention to the dire teacher shortage. Eventually, teachers were hired on a contract basis, but these efforts proved insufficient to meet the growing demands of the student population.
The condition of the school also sparked political and social movements. Key figures like Basundhara Director Vivekananda Nanda rallied support and even threatened indefinite protests to draw the attention of top officials, including the Chief Minister and President, to the issue. Consequently, Bolani Minerals decided to entrust the school’s operations to a third party for sustainable management.
Wednesday’s transfer ceremony marked the official transition under DAV’s policy framework. The celebration at the school was attended by Chief Guest Jaydev Chattopadhyay, Chief General Manager of Bolani Minerals, and Kakoli Chattopadhyay, Chairperson of the Steel Women’s Society. Key contributors to the transition included Vijay Kevin Ghosh, GM of Personnel and Administrative Departments, Sarpanch Gauri Khuntia of Balagoda Panchayat, and department heads from Bolani Minerals.
On the DAV side, distinguished guests included L.N. Pradhan, Regional Officer of Odisha Zone-2, and Jyoti Mishra, Regional Officer of Zone-GR. Prominent representatives from DAV Public Schools across Odisha also graced the event. The ceremony was overseen by Jayashree Mahapatra, President of DAV Public School Bolani and Executive Chairperson of DAV Bolani School, who ensured smooth collaboration among teachers, students, and organizers.
This remarkable milestone lays the foundation for a promising educational resurgence in Bolani, bringing hope to its community.
