Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 22: Despite the tall claims of BJP-PDP Government to raise model schools and set up Smart Classes in many schools with most modern facilities like Lap tops, projectors/ LEDs; a Govt High School located in the remote area of Balakote near the Line of Control (LoC) in district Poonch is being run in unsafe building and sans basic facilities.
Established about 54 years back (in 1961), this school is situated at Darati village, located on that side of the border- fencing and is hardly one kilometer from the LoC. Unconcerned about the safety of 184 students and teaching staff members, the State School Education authorities continued to run this school in the same building. The roof of this building is still made up of old, rusted and damaged tin sheets and in case of rain, the teachers have the only option to close the school. The rain water enters the rooms and the children are unable to sit inside. Only small number of students can be accommodated in the dilapidated Veranda portion.
The old walls have developed cracks and floor has broken at many places. Even many students of lower classes do not have jute mats for sitting. There is no arrangement of drinking water. The students in rotation bring water themselves in buckets from a natural source located at some distance. Not to talk of staff toilets, there are no toilets even for the boys as well as girl students of this High School. Six posts of teachers including PET, a clerk, Lab Assistant and peon are lying vacant since long. There is no special Math teacher in the school and despite repeated requests by the village Sarpanch and other prominent people of the area, Zonal and District Education authorities did not take much heed towards students’ plight.
Sarpanch Shadam Khan of Darati village said that he has studied in this school in mid-sixties. There are 12 rooms and varanda but this whole building has turned into shambles. Water leakage from tin sheets of the roof during rain is the routine affair and the children can not study during rains. Many students are made to sit in the open due to unsafe building and paucity of space. Mr Khan said after long hue and cry by the locals of the area, four room for this school were sanctioned under RAMSA. After raising plinth the contractor abandoned the work about two years back. Then again following public pressure, the walls and slab work was completed but the building is still incomplete despite fact that Rs 18 lakh are said to have been spent on the same.
Appreciating assistance from the Army authorities, Sarpanch said under Operation Sadbhavana, local army unit provided 87 desks, computers, computer tables, chairs and other furniture. Unfortunately, most of the desks have been dumped in a room and computers/ tables & chairs are gathering dust in the corner of a room. It is matter of shame that concerned Education authorities failed to set up even a toilet for the girl students in the premises. There is massive shortage of staff and the studies of the students are badly affected. Most of the teachers do not prefer to be posted in this school being closer to LoC and across the fencing. This school was upgraded to the 10th standard about three years back and students from Panjni, Sohala, Dabbi villages and Balakore forward area study here. The MLA was also told about this issue many times.
Another villager Zahir Ahmed said that Army got a kitchen shed constructed for the Mid Day Meals purpose in the school some time back on the request but Rs 70,000 was withdrawn fraudulently against the same kitchen shed by some concerned officials without spending any money by department. He said that in Rs 18 lakh, this building of 4- rooms could not be completed in last two years and the concerned senior officers are silent over the issue while the sufferers are the hapless students of the area. He demanded an inquiry into the matter. He said that this school is without proper fencing or protection wall. The cattle graze in the compound and sit in the varanda, moreover several doors and windows are broken. Cow dung is seen scattered in the Veranda and other areas. Two new rooms constricted have been converted into HM/ staff room while another is made as office.
Headmaster of the school Mohd Yunis Khan when contacted said that he took up the issue with the ZEO Balakote after assuming charge here about one year back. The issue was also taken up with the DyCEO Poonch but no progress has been witnessed. Even the much needed staff for running classes smoothly has not been provided so far.
CEO, Poonch Lal Hussain however, said that he will provide staff shortly and also hold inquiry into the non-completion of building by the contractor Hafiz Ahmed. He said Rs 18 lakhs has already been released for the same building by department but it is still incomplete after two years. Referring to alleged fraudulent drawal of Rs 70,000 for kitchen shed of the school, CEO said that proper inquiry would be held and guilty would be punished. He also assured to release funds for the toilets in the school and making arrangements for the drinking water.
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