NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The idols of goddess Mahalaxmi and goddess Saraswati installed on either side of the entrance to the new educational premises of the Mushtifund Saunstha, at the Cujira Integrated Educational Complex greeting the students and visitors, represent the two schools of the institution – Mahalaxmi Vidyalaya and Saraswati Vidyalaya – which were established in Panaji in the year 1908.
The secondary schools of Mushtifund Saunstha, located near Mahalaxmi temple and in Mala, will be shifted from June 6 to the new premises, which have come up in an eco-friendly environment, including the nature-blessed interiors.
The president of Mushtifund Saunstha, Anil Counto addressing a press conference on Thursday morning said that the proposed three phases of the premises would be spread over a total built-up area of 13,000 sq mt, with the work of the first phase already completed over an area admeasuring 5,000 sq mt. “The total cost of the entire project will be Rs 22 crore; the money being raised through donations, internal generation of funds, and bank loans as well as special government grant, each amounting to Rs 2.5 crore,” he informed, revealing that the first phase has cost an estimated Rs 9 crore.
The first phase of the new premises has 40 classes complete with modern blackboards, overhead projector facilities with laptop compatibility and so on. “Around 1,500 students of classes from V to X will study at the new premises during the academic year 2016-17, and would continue to study in the to-be-completed second phase from next academic year, just as the Marathi primary students of Mushtifund Saunstha would be placed in the first phase class rooms from 2017-18,” Counto stated.
Mushtifund Saunstha has also made adequate transport arrangement for plying the students, informed the administrator and secretary of the Saunstha, Suhas Sardesai stating that private buses have been roped in to bring students from various places to schools, as also the three Bal Raths in possession of the schools would continuously provide free trips to students from the Panaji Kadamba bus stand to the school. “Furthermore, we are also requesting the Kadamba Transport Corporation to make more buses available to us,” he noted.
The treasurer of the institution, Dilip Dharwadkar informed that the entry point to the new educational premises will have the administrator’s block and the school office on either of the sides, and no visitor, including parents would be allowed to go beyond this point. “The entire premises has only one large gate, and Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) cards would be issued to the students as well as staff in order to keep surveillance on their movements within the campus,” he stated, informing that CCTV cameras have also been positioned in the premises from the safety point of view.
The three phases of the premises, including an amphitheatre and a large smart library is expected to be completed by 2018-19, with all the 3,000 students from primary level to higher secondary level shifted to this premises.