Rayagada: As you enter the Bhakurguda Ashram School in the district, "chief minister" Rambabu Miniaka, a Class VIII student, welcomes you with poise and elegance befitting a CM.
When "health and sanitation minister" Angad Mandangi, a 11-year-old Class V student reaches the residential school or SC and ST students, his job is to ensure that the toilets are clean. "Environment minister" Chandan Pulaka takes care of the school garden and ensures that the classrooms are clean and the study atmosphere is healthy.
A school cabinet, headed by the "chief minister" had been formed in July 2017. The students elect the "council of ministers" for a period of one year. The school and mass education department and the welfare department have jointly introduced the programme in the district schools. One teacher from each of the schools has undergone a four-day training for implementing the programme.
"Children are the instrument of change. Using the concept of making a child a school chief minister, assisted by a cabinet, a daily routine of checking whether their schoolmates had bathed, combed and washed their faces was introduced," said headmaster Gagan Chandra Sahu.
With a student strength of 362, including 167 girls, the institute has classes from I to VIII and is managed by the state's SC and ST development department. "This programme also helps to develop leadership quality and social responsibility among the students. After the introduction of this programme, the attendance rate in the school has increased," said teacher Dwiti Chandra Sahu.
"As soon as I arrive in school, I check whether toilets and classrooms have been cleaned, the garden watered and then assign jobs to each of the ministers according to their portfolios. A meeting is held every Saturday where we discuss the problems of the school," said Rambabu.
"Every day, I check the quality of the midday meal," said Anand.
There is also a special portfolio titled "meena minister". His work entails convincing drop-outs to rejoin. "We do a door-to-door campaign during our holidays to bring back drop-outs. We have brought back six drop-outs," says Sabitri Himirika, in charge of the portfolio.
