Pathe Paathshaalaa, a ‘school on move’, is catching the eyeballs of policymakers of the Union and State Governments, thanks to an innovative idea of Balaram Sahu, a leading veterinarian.
The institution is for farmers, pastoralists, students and women and a concept aimed to disseminate small but effective low input-based technologies for easing livelihood processes of rural communities.
Dr Sahu, after founding the institution, is now active in organising training classes for people on different livelihood options like agriculture, fisheries and livestock keeping, etc.
The first class of Pathe Paathshaalaa was held at village Dalibati in Khallikote block of Ganjam district way back on November 19, 2008. The roadside class of 33 goat keepers was inaugurated by the then Director of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Bishnupada Sethi on the side of National Highway-5.
Sethi, now Commissioner-cum-Secretary Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, is actively promoting the cause of farmers engaged in diary development and allied agriculture sectors.
Dr Ilse Kollher Rollefsan of Germany, a well-known veterinary expert, anthropologist and bio-conservationist, was present in the first class of the Pathe Paathshaalaa, of which Sethi is the honorary chancellor. Since then, Dr Sahu has never looked back.
In the journey of six years, more than 350 classes have been conducted in different parts of Odisha. The institution reached the Phailin-hit villages in Ganjam, tribal youths of Balangir and Maoist-affected villages of Nuapada district.
The Pathe Paathshaalaa imparted training to more than 6,000 farmers at their doorsteps. Some classes were also held in other States like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan and outskirt villages of Delhi on invitation of enthusiastic persons and philanthropists.
The Pathe Pathshala has been recognised by the Government of India and other agencies as a powerful tool in communicating science and technology to people. It received mention in a national award given to Dr Balaram Sahu for outstanding contribution in the field of science and technology communication instituted by the Central Government’s Department of Science and Technology for the year 2011.