India’s first floating elementary school inaugurated on Manipur’s Loktak Lake

India’s first floating(तैरनेवाला)  elementary school inaugurated on Manipur’s Loktak Lake 

India’s first floating elementary school particularly for drop outs has been inaugurated on Loktak lake at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok floating village in Manipur on the occasion of World Wetlands Day on February 2, 2017. The school named as Loktak Elementary Floating School has

been opened under an floating elementary school initiative of All Loktak Lake Fishermen’s Union, Manipur (ALLAFUM) with the support of NGO, People’s Resources Development Association (PRDA) under a programme of Action Aid India.  The need to establish such a school was felt(महसूस किया)  considering sudden high drop out rate of children living in the Champu Khangpok floating villages. Loktak Development Authority had removed more than 700 floating huts (झोपड़ियों) as part of clearing the lake after the introduction of Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006, about five years ago, resulting in largescale displacement of the fishing community and thus children of these fishing communities were forced to discontinue their education. the school will not only cater to the need of the children but for the illiterate adults as well. The newly-inaugurated school in the floating village is currently providing education to around 40 children from Class I-III by engaging two local teachers.

PRDA will pay the volunteers(स्वयंसेवकों)  under the project called ‘Empowering vulnerable(आलोचनीय)  local communities for sustainable development’, which is funded by Action Aid India.