Most of us know that the world’s only floating post office is on Kashmir’s Dal Lake. The beautiful floating market of Srinagar too attracts a large number of tourists. And now India’s first floating elementary school has also come up in Manipur on Loktak Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country. The first-of-its-kind aspect of this school is that it aims to provide education to drop out students and illiterate adults. The inauguration of the school took place at Langolsabi Leikai of Manipur’s Champu Khangpok village. It is located 50 kilometres away from Imphal, the capital of Manipur.
India’s First Floating School Teaches Drop Out Students And Illiterate Adults For Free
After the evacuation of phumdis ( floating islands on Loktak lake), a large number of students became homeless and they had to drop out of their schools. To assist them in continuing their education, All Loktak Lake Fisherman’s Union teamed up with NGO – People Resources Development Association (PRDA) to open up this unique floating school. The institution also teaches illiterate adults. And it provides education free of cost. It runs on the funding of Action Aid India, under a project called ‘Empowering vulnerable local communities for sustainable development’.
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The School Is In Proximity To The World’s Only Floating National Park
The Loktak Lake is the lifeline of Manipur, essential for irrigation, drinking water and food supplies. Thousands of fishermen reap about 1,500 tons of fish every year from the waters. Species of aquatic plants flourishing in the lake go up to 200 while 400 species of animals survive on its resources.
Interestingly, the only floating national park in the world is also on this lake. The Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur is the only place in the world that supports a wild population of Manipur’s state animal, the brow-antlered sangai, famously called the dancing deer. The school is an add on to the already existing amazeballs on the lake.
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So the next time you plan a trip to Manipur, don’t forget to visit this quaint floating school. It’s not everywhere you watch a rustic-themed school nestled in the middle of the lake. On that note, did you know about the living root bridge of Meghalaya?