Rayagada: Academic activities have taken a backseat at the Dakosikula Project Upper Primary School under Padmapur block in the district due to lack of adequate classrooms.

Situated at a distance of about 80 km from the district headquarters of Rayagada, the school has classes from I to V with a strength of more than100 students. The institute is being run by the school and mass education department and state's SC and ST development department runs its hostel.

"There are insufficient classrooms and all the students are forced to sit in two classrooms," said Somnath Sahu, a villager.

Villagers alleged that they asked the authorities to take appropriate steps in this regard but nothing had been done so far.

"The existing two classrooms are in a dilapidated condition with broken windows and doors. For five classes the school has only four teachers, including the headmaster," said another villager.

The villagers said the quality food served at the hostel was not up to the mark.

"The students are being provided low-quality food. The inmates are not getting enough beds and bed-sheets at the hostel. Even the toilets at the hostel are lying defunct," Sahu said.

Admitting that there are insufficient classroom for students, headmaster of the school, Krushna Chandra Panda, said: "We urged the higher authorities for construction of additional classrooms many times but no steps have been taken so far."

Project administrator of Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Gunupur, Gourang Charan Gomang, said: "Recently, a project report has been prepared listing the infrastructural requirements of the school and the hostel and all the demands will be fulfilled shortly."