Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, May 17: The villagers from Purian in Saujian area and adjoining hamlets in Mandi tehsil held protest dharna for over eleven hours on Friday as a local Government school was lying closed for the last over one month.
A large number of villagers assembled at Saujian and started protest demonstration at around 9 am against the School Education authorities. They were raising slogans against Director School Education Jammu, CEO Poonch and ZEO Mandi. They alleged that officers have failed to monitor functioning of Government schools in remote areas.
The villagers further alleged that two teachers have been posted in Govt Primary School Purian in Mandi zone but they are not seen for the last over one month. The school is lying closed and the matter was also brought to the notice of ZEO concerned but despite assurance, the teachers remained mysteriously missing. The career of their children has been dragged to darkness. They demanded that either teachers be made to attend their duty properly or certificates be issued to their children so that people send them to private academies.
Later, DySP (Prob)/ SHO Mandi Dr Hilal and tehsildar Mandi Aamir Rather reached the spot in the afternoon and talked to the agitating people. The people refused to lift dharna and suspend agitation. They demanded that ZEO or CEO should come personally and give on the spot assurance to them whether to run this school or close it for ever.
The officers then talked to DC Poonch Sajjad Ahmed Khan and CEO Poonch Mr Fani on phone. They also made repeated calls to ZEO Mandi Mr Danish who arrived on the spot after so long to avoid public wrath. He was grilled by officers and public for his behavior. Then he gave on the spot assurance to public to send teachers in Govt Middle School Purian within 2-3 days. The people then lifted dharna at around 8 pm and cleared road.
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