My creative life coexists with hazards of administration
Sangram Keshari Mohapatra is now the Special Project Director (SPD) of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan (OVAS). A seasoned bureaucrat and a workaholic by temperament, he has successfully climbed the hierarchical ladder since he opened his joining the OAS in 1989. His academic excellence is confirmed from his records as he was an All India Residential and National Scholarship holder. While pursuing his MPhil at JNU in Diplomatic Studies, he got through the OAS examination in his maiden attempt. He was instrumental in bringing various technological interventions in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department through online services G2C. As Secretary of the Odia Virtual Academy, he led the digitisation of rare Odia books, manuscripts. As Collector of Jagatsinghpur and Khordha, he brought about sea changes in e-office and OSWAS and was known as “People's Collector”. While handling Covid phase 1 and 2 efficiently, he drew the Chief Minister’s attention for heading his dream project OAV. He is recently promoted to IAS. An eminent litterateur, he has 15 books to his credit in both Odia and English that includes fiction, non-fiction, novel, travelogues, tribal poems, translation and biography.
In an interview to The Pioneer, Mohapatra spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on many relevant issues concerning the OAVS.
Do you think that OAVS will be able to take off its course in right earnest sans GOI grants?
Academic buildings, teachers’ postings are already in place in 254 blocks. Very soon Hon’ble CM would dedicate further fifty buildings within a gap of six months. Hundred fifty-three girls’ hostels are also over. Rest girls’ hostels will be over by December 2023. By that time, we are proposing to complete 100-seat boys’ hostels in all OAVs. These are being done by out of 100% State Government-budgeted fund.
It is learnt that the OAVS is taking around 50% girls students but without adequate hostel facilities everywhere; how is it possible to extend care to the women section of students? Out of one lakh students currently studying, over 66% are girls which itself is a big achievement. The figure keeps increasing every year. As I mentioned earlier, 153 girl’s hostels are already over and balance 161 would likely to be completed by December.
Do you have any plans to expand OAVs from a conservative number of 314 to more for spreading this quality education?
The Government has already opened an OAV for Kotia and an Iconic OAV in Bhubaneswar from this academic year besides an OAV in each block. Currently, we have OAVs in all 314 blocks. This is being done in accordance with our objective to provide quality education to all meritorious students. If there are needs for opening more OAVs in future, the Government will take appropriate decisions at right time.
How would you ensure quality education through OAVs compared to and in contrast with Central Schools?
Along with conventional teaching pedagogy, we also have a digital infrastructure laid out through smart classrooms and ICT infrastructure that leverages online resources and interactive learning videos. These provide clarity of thought of the lessons meant for students.
How do you think the OAVS will ensure the New National Education Policy, its syllabus and curriculum?
Our curriculum is CBSE-based and our students are being taught through the NCERT syllabus. Besides, our classes start from Class-VI. We also provide Odia textbooks and syllabus for our students which the NEP highlights teaching through mother tongue in formative years. The CM has a ten-point agenda for OAV. It is about social activities, soft skills, leadership training through mock assemblies, afforestation, etc. The NEP also mentions that, as I said, we have not only three languages but having four languages, English, Hindi, Odia and Sanskrit.
What are the plans on your agenda to develop OAVs as a world-class category of schools to translate the visions of CM Naveen Patnaik? How do you think it will be implemented within the ambit of 5T initiatives?
As I told you earlier, OAVs are CBSE-affiliated English-medium schools. Hon’ble CM wants every child of our State to get quality education. Education is very close to his heart. OAV desires to fulfil that objective. We have very good teachers and our students are admitted through an entrance exam. We are having an Iconic OAV at BBSR where best students from across the State are reading. The CM has also made excellent coaching facilities for JEE, NEET and NDA entrance exams for them. Under 5T, we have made 942 smart classrooms, 163 ICT labs till now. By December, we would like to complete the balance infrastructure. Recently, Hon’ble CM and 5T Secretary felicitated the students who became successful in JEE and Classes-X and XII board exams. We have formed Vidyalaya Management Development Committees in all schools to make learning of students through involvement of their parents. Our goal is to provide best schooling and educational facilities to rural meritorious students.
You are also adding to your literary creations with a passage of time. How do you combine your creative life with the hazards of administration?
My fondness for writing is a mere reflection of the zeal I possess to weave stories on topics that continue to fascinate me. I am workaholic as I take my Government job seriously. I also try to bring innovation in good governance. I made Jagatsinghpur and Khordha districts completely on e-office and OSWAS and my current OAVS office also as paperless. It takes a lot of time as I am over sincere since my career. But I honestly believe that if one is passionate enough about the fulfilment of one's creative goals, one will eventually find time to explore them. However, your schedule turns out to be hectic. This attitude has led me to write fifteen books covering fiction, travelogues, novels, anthology of tribal poems, translations and biographies. Further, four books are completed and will be released next year. But I believe my creative life is coexistent with hazards of administration which make me more humble, more people friendly and transparent.