Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Remote Teachers Cross Reservoir Daily to Reach Students
Two teachers work at schools in very remote parts of Nabarangpur district.
Their schools are separated from the main roads by the Indravati Reservoir.
Traveling by road would take more than 110 kilometers.
So, the teachers bought a small local boat with their own money.
They operate the boat themselves to cross the reservoir.
Then they walk or travel another four kilometers on a muddy road.
To stay closer to their students, they rent a house nearby.
They continue holding classes even though the schools have few facilities.
Their daily journey shows the students the importance of responsibility and perseverance.
Teachers Ratiharijan and Ajit Kumar Kirana serve schools in remote areas of Nabarangpur district.
Reaching the schools by road takes more than 110 km because the Indravati Reservoir cuts them off from the main road network.
The teachers pooled their money to buy and operate a traditional country boat to cross the reservoir.
After crossing the water, they travel another 4 km along a muddy road to reach their classrooms.
They rented a local house and continue teaching despite limited infrastructure and difficult conditions.
- Who
- Teachers Ratiharijan of Tangniguda and Ajit Kumar Kirana of Gurmaiguda.
- What
- They cross the Indravati Reservoir by self-operated country boat and travel along a muddy road to reach their schools.
- When
- They make the difficult journey as part of their daily school duties.
- Where
- Tangniguda and Gurmaiguda schools across the Indravati Reservoir in Nabarangpur district.
- Why
- They continue serving students despite poor infrastructure and difficult access, following a previous effort to address local school dropouts.
- District
- Nabarangpur district
- Schools
- Tangniguda and Gurmaiguda
- Road journey
- More than 110 km
- Reservoir crossing
- The teachers use a traditional local country boat called a “desi donga.”
- Road after crossing
- Another 4 km of muddy and difficult road
- Housing
- The teachers rented a house near the schools
- Tangniguda school
- A new school was constructed there in 2014 after a significant local dropout problem was observed