Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 10: One may not believe, but it has been proved factually correct that a concrete Government School building constructed hardly six and half year back in Kotranka tehsil of district Rajouri, has been `declared unsafe’ as huge cracks have developed in walls and on the roof, posing great threat to the lives of over 65 odd students.
During recent rainy season, this school remains non-functional for nearly one and half month on the directions of the Chief Education Officer, Rajouri and the Zonal Education Officer concerned (Kotranka), but now the children have been forced to study in the open. In coming harsh winter months also, the poor and hapless children will have to sit in the open, while the concerned School Education authorities have maintained criminal silence over the issue.
Interestingly, not only this, even no senior officer from the department or even the ZEO concerned bothered to visit the school and cared to conduct an inquiry and fix responsibility on the people/agency, responsible for initiating highly sub-standard work on this Govt School, playing with the lives over 65 innocent children and of course, the seven teachers posted there.
Village Sarpanch, Bashir Kalhotra when contacted said that constructed with the cost of nearly Rs 20 lakh under SSA, three rooms of this Govt Middle School, Jaglanoo (Kotranka) were amazingly declared unsafe within hardly six years of construction. He said walls have developed cracks, seepage continues from the concrete roof. There is threat to the lives of the children. They are being made to sit in the open for the last several months now. There are seven teachers including one Head Master and a Physical Education Teacher. First two Pucca rooms of this school were constructed by RDD agency in 1996. They are also in shambles. But three new rooms constructed in 2006 under SSA have also suffered major cracks. There is no accountability of any person or agency. The Administration has also shut its eyes towards this issue. It should be brought to book the people who plundered public money worth Rs 20 lakh and played with the lives of children.
Replying to a question, he said that matter was brought to the notice of concerned ZEO by the Village Panchayat members and also by the Headmaster. Even when the CEO Rajouri recently sought the list of unsafe buildings, the HM concerned included this school building and forwarded. Till date neither CEO, nor ZEO or any other officer has visited this Govt School. No inquiry has been ordered by CEO, ZEO or even the Dy Commissioner or DSE, Jammu for initiating highly sub-standard work on this Govt building, for punishing the guilty. He said there is no play field, no boundary wall, no toilets and drinking water facility in this Government school.
ZEO Kotranka Mohd Sharief when contacted claimed that the matter was in his notice and Headmaster was asked to take necessary measures in this regard. Mr Sharief also confessed that he could not spare time to visit the school so far and would pay a visit there shortly. On the issue of inquiry, he remained non-committal but maintained that he has referred the matter to the Chief Education Officer Rajouri. He also admitted that building has been identified as `unsafe’ for use and the list of such buildings including Jaglanoo school has been forwarded to CEO and now the higher authorities have to take decision in this regard.
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