'Prime Minister', his 'cabinet' looks after school in Odisha

KORAPUT (ODISHA): As you enter Sevashram, a residential school for SC and ST students at Sipaiput in Odisha's Koraput district, you are welcomed by the "prime minister" of the school.

While the prime minister, Binod Hontal of Class VII, is in overall charge, other 'ministers' look after sanitation, cleanliness, hygiene and other matters in a novel experiment in school running.

Thus, Manjula Mudagadia, a 13-year-old student, sees to it that toilets remain clean in her capacity as the "health and sanitation minister".

"Food minister" Budu Pangi ensures that the kitchen is kept hygienic and the students are served food properly.

The ministers are part of a five-member school 'cabinet' which was formed in July, 2013. They were elected by students for a period of two years.

The idea to involve students in the upkeep of the school did not come randomly. It was mooted by Odisha government and one teacher from each school underwent a four-day training schedule as a first step towards implementing it.