Baipariguda: In Sarukunda, a remote hilltop village in Odisha’s Koraput district, education has never truly arrived. For generations, residents of this small settlement have grown up without learning even the basics of reading and writing. In a country striving for universal literacy and digital governance, the children of Sarukunda are still waiting for something as basic as their first classroom.
Villagers say the chalk and slate of the education department have simply never made the climb to their village. As a result, Sarukunda, which comes under Dasmantpur Gram Panchayat, remains trapped in a cycle of illiteracy, where even today many residents cannot recognise the first letters of the alphabet.
Reaching Sarukunda itself explains part of the story. From the Baipariguda block headquarters, one must travel via Tanginiguda to the Tapajodi village junction. From there, a narrow road branches left toward Kanchapodapadar village under Kolar Gram Panchayat. After crossing that settlement, another four kilometres of rough and uneven terrain must be navigated before Sarukunda finally appears atop a hill. Though the village is barely 20 kilometres from the block headquarters, the difficult terrain has effectively kept it cut off from several basic services.
Only 19 families live in this isolated settlement, and agriculture remains their primary livelihood. Yet while the villagers cultivate their land to sustain themselves, education has never taken root here. Neither the elders nor the younger generation have had the opportunity to take even the first step toward literacy.
Today, Sarukunda has 24 children between the ages of five and twelve. Shockingly, not one of them can even write their own name. When the author interacted with the children during the visit, they spoke of their desire to go to school, learn to read and write, and build a better future. But the absence of even the most basic access to education has quietly begun to silence their dreams before they can truly take shape.
“We want to go to school and learn to read and write like other children. If we get a chance to study, we can become something in life and help our village grow. But without a school nearby, our dreams remain only dreams,” said Rukuni Gouda, one of the children of Sarukunda.
According to the villagers, no government arrangement has ever been made for the education of their children, and none of them have attended a nearby school. Residents allege that officials from the block and district education departments often treat the children of Sarukunda as belonging to neighbouring villages, effectively leaving them outside the formal education system.
“We have repeatedly submitted written appeals to the authorities requesting a school for our village children, but no one has listened to our concerns so far,” said village head Madhu Khil. “Our children are eager to learn, but without a school or any educational support, their future remains uncertain.”
Villagers say that if authorities arrange admission for the children in a nearby residential school, the next generation could finally break free from the cycle of illiteracy.
The situation raises serious questions about how the education system functions at different administrative levels. How an entire village has remained outside the reach of basic education for decades is a matter that demands urgent attention and investigation.
Panchayat Samiti Chairman Prashant Kumar Gupta, however, said he had not received any formal complaint about the issue so far. “If the situation described is indeed true, it is a serious matter. I will immediately take it up with the education department and ensure that arrangements are made so the children of the village can access education,” he said.
Block Education Officer Sukanta Kumar Kartami said he would personally visit the village to assess the situation. “After visiting the village, I will report the matter to the District Education Officer and take necessary steps to find a solution so that the children can begin their education,” he said.
For now, however, Sarukunda continues to live in the shadow of educational neglect. As the country moves forward with ambitious literacy drives and digital initiatives, the villagers wonder whether their children too will grow up like their elders — signing documents with thumb impressions instead of their own names.
