School building at Dabling inaugurated

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 24 May 2014: A school building at Dabling located in a remote village about 27 km away from Kalimpong was inaugurated today. 

A pucca building of the Sadhu Sundarsingh Memorial High School was dedicated today by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Philip Silas Masih, President of National Missionaries Society of India during a programme organised by the school committee and NMSI. 

Bishop Masih also unveiled a plaque of the school building. 

In the programme conducted by Rev. H.D.Subba, President of the North Bengal Area Committee and Moderator of Kalimpong Kirk Session, MMC, UCNI the hall was opened and unlocked by A.K.Rai, General Secretary of Eastern Himalayan Church Council, UCNI. The school established in 1995 is founded and funded by National Missionaries society of India through its North Bengal Area Committee and the students are charged a minimum amount of tuition fees.

During the second half of the programme conducted by Rev, J.P. Lepcha of NBAC Rev. Dr. Suresh Rajan, General Secretary of NMSI introduced the donors of the school building. The donors present in the programme were from Coimbatore, Madurai, Bangalore and other South Indian states like Tamil Nadu and others, all supporting the school building project through NMSI. Rev. Lepcha also called upon the local people to help the school for further upgradation and development of the school as the task is not yet finished and just begun.

Mr. B.T. Lepcha Principal of the Primary section of the school and local administrator of the school board stated in his report that the primary section building is situated in Reeyon of the area while the Secondary section and the main building is constructed in Dubling. 

He also highlighted how the vision of starting a school in this area where no other school exists could be materialised seeking helps from all corners. He also stated that the previous thatched house constructed by the help of Nimbong Gram Panchayat was damaged by a storm and had to be shifted in a community hall and now classes are running in another kutcha  house.

Mr. Johnson, Organising secretary of the Eastern India NMSI in his address explained the ongoing process of the development of the school building project and contact with the sponsors for collecting the fund for the construction of the building and the contribution of the local people, NGOs as well sponsors of NMSI for the project.

The school still is being running in a very poor condition and the new school building needs infrastructural amenities he added. Some NGOs are helping for the need.

Heman Chhetri in his thanks giving address thanked World vision, HimServe and Glen Family and Ganesh High School to which the school is affiliated for their contribution for the school building project and the school.

Rt. Rev Dr Philip Silias Masih, Rev Noel Prabhuraj and Raja McGee, Principal of Calcutta Boys School, Rev. Ebenezer Mani and other dignitaries addressed the audience gathered in the programme which included guests from different NGOs, churches, schools, local residents and guardians. 

Noel Lepcha Headmaster of the school informed that the first batch consisting of three Madhyamik Pariksha examinees could successfully pass the examination this year. These students along the pioneer B.T.Lepcha were also felicitated in the programme.

Choir group of the MMC UCNI presented special items and beautiful numbers and students of the School with cultural items and skits in the programme.