Rayagada: Walk into any government primary school in the tribal districts of the state and it's almost the same story - damaged floor, shabby wall, leaking roof and students draped in shoddy uniforms.

But, the Ashram School at Bhakurguda, 6km from the district headquarters town, has a different story to tell. It is a residential school meant for SC and ST students and run by the state SC and ST development department.

While the roads leading to the classrooms, office and hostels are done with beautiful paver blocks, a well-maintained garden has been developed for the students to take part in extra-curricular activities. Also, the students avail themselves of the benefits of a well-managed library, while the school encourages their creativity with a wall magazine where they can write and draw. Besides, the school has a museum displaying the creativity of the students, including handicrafts. Food is prepared in the most hygienic condition and served in a modern dinning hall.

Established in 1954, the school has classes from I to VII with 362 students, including 167 girls. Also, it has two separate hostels for boys and girls.

However, two years ago, things were not the same, and the school was like any other government-run school in a remote area. "In 2015, we had decided to convert the school into a model institute. Soon, it was revamped on an experimental basis, and it was a success. Credit goes to the school employees, who made the dream a reality," said Integrated Tribal Development Agency project administrator Muralidhar Swain.

Not only that the authorities have ensured the beautification of school, but also each Sunday the students, along with teachers, visit to the nearby village and make villagers aware about the benefits of hygienic living under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

"We make door-to-door visit and ask villagers to wash hands before taking food and use mosquito nets while sleeping at night. Also, the villagers are made aware of the ill-effects of defecating in the open," said Akhay Pibarka, Class VIII student of the school.

"No extra funds have been sanctioned for the school. However, it's the dedication of the concerned officials and the school employees, for which the institute has carved a niche for," said Rayagada collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar.

While teachers from other districts frequently comes for an exposure visit to the school, the school has now becomes a stopover for officials and academicians visiting the district. Upbeat over its success, the administration now plans to covert another 10 schools of the district in the line of the Bhakurguda Ashram School.