A British era monument, standing tall and recapping the memory of pre independence education system here at coastal Kendrapara district, is lying in dilapidated condition.
Thanks to the district administration and the political leaders of the district, not a single step has been taken to preserve the monument for posterity. The 129-year-old school, Fraser Girl’s School, situated at Old Bus stand, the heart of Kendrapada town, was established during the pre independence era. When woman education was a far cry at that time, the then SDO of Kendrapada Sub Division had set up a school on the name of his wife “Fraser” in 1887. With the passing of time, the premier institution in the district has started decaying fast due to lack of proper maintenance and conservation.
The School and Mass Education Department, more than a decade back, had declared the building to be unsafe and stopped classroom teaching in the building. Though later the Education Department has constructed a two storied building to run the school at the backside of the century-old dilapidated building, but the renovation work was not carried out.
Meanwhile, the roof of the building has been damaged. Most of the walls are in dilapidated condition, with big cracks showing up while the doors and windows are too damaged. Weeds and small bushes have grown in most part of the building, alleged Ashis Senapati, an intellectual person.
It is purely an irony that the British era monument, that is located just behind the district Collector’s office, remains in dilapidated condition since long. When the State Government has been taking steps for the refurbishment of 100-year-old structures having historic importance, it has shut its eyes to the British era school building, said intellectual masses.
When contacted, District Tourist Officer Bijay Kumar Mohanty stated that a proposal would be sent to the State Government for taking steps to renovate the building.