Dear Students, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao-Tzu I would like to welcome you to this unique institution where lives have been transformed and visions have been nurtured and pursued into fulfilled dreams. We are delighted that you are considering Laxminarayan College, Jharsuguda as a suitable institution to start or further your academic career. We are driven by our guiding principle of providing good quality educational services. Our College has already completed 52 years of its journey. With a team of dedicated and experienced administrative and academic staff, Laxminarayan College, Jharsuguda continues to ensure that our goal of enhancing the educational value of our diverse students is achieved. Our staff are always on hand to ensure that the welfare and academic aspirations of our student community are adequately addressed. COVID-19 has changed our routines and lifestyles. Each one of us and the entire world is affected by the corona virus Pandemic. This pandemic has accelerated existential issues like acute individual loneliness in the wake of lockdowns and quarantine or isolation, disturbances of social life, contaminating the interpersonal space with distrust of each other; in short our entire way of life is adversely affected by the scare of COVID- 19 and has created new psychological situation for people. We understand the challenges faced by you, your parents and the teachers to cater to the academic needs during closure of college and adapting to virtual learning. However the importance of education remains consistent. We need to be prepared to take life ahead with all our normal activities according to the new normal. Though disturbed, we don’t want to miss this academic year for our students. Our talented and dedicated staff, both teaching and non-teaching, have been showing their care and concern for the students working from home engaging classes online for the benefit of you. I appreciate their concern for the students and commitment to academics. They helped you to keep contact with your teachers through WhatsApp groups. All these will also lead to imbibing of digital skills, one of the most important literacy skills of the 21st century. We have turned the challenges to an opportunity. The COVID 19 Pandemic did not lockdown the aspirations of our young generation. Dear students, now we are all back to the physical environment of teaching and learning. We missed you a lot during the lockdown period. The dark shadow of COVID-19 is still hovering over our head. We need to practice social distancing, physical distancing, use of masks and follow other protocols of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the Government. We can bring the difference in our lives as well as in the lives of others through education, if we will work together. Narendra Kumar Panda Principal

(Prof. Narendra Kumar Panda)