Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh): The poor state of education in Alirajpur can be gauged from the condition in Chachariya Umda village where 70 students from classes I to V are forced to study under a tin shed amid rains, as the main school building is locked due to its dilapidated condition.
Only students from classes I to II have access to a single available room on the school premises.
When Free Press correspondent talked to school principal Rajudevi Maurya on Friday, she confirmed the dire situation, explaining that the lack of proper infrastructure has left children vulnerable to weather conditions. With the onset of monsoon, there are serious concerns about further disruption to students' education.
Before monsoon season, collector Dr Abhay Arvind Bedekar had directed that all dilapidated buildings across the district should be abandoned, following which 75 school and 56 Anganwadi buildings were demolished. The collector had also emphasised that children should not face educational disruptions. However, the education department failed to make proper alternate arrangements.
Principal Maurya said that alternative arrangements would be made within days and students would be shifted to proper buildings.
Block Education Officer, Alirajpur, Bapu Singh Kanesh said that Girdhar Thackeray, cluster principal of Chachia Umda, inspected the local school and instructed the management committee to operate in two shifts. A report was submitted to assistant commissioner Sanjay Parwal, who also directed the committee to use annual grants to repair the dilapidated school buildings.
