Chhatrapur: Tension prevailed at GN Palamma Government Primary School in Ganjam district Friday after parents alleged that children were being made to clean a toilet septic tank and cut overgrown grass on campus under the direction of the headmistress.
According to parents, students were told to remove weeds from the school premises and clean the toilet tank, prompting strong objections from the local community. A group of parents gathered at the school and confronted the headmistress, leading to a tense situation on the campus.
Following the incident, Additional Block Education Officer Sanjukta Rath visited the school and held discussions with the protesting parents in an attempt to defuse the situation. The parents demanded the immediate transfer of the headmistress, alleging administrative irregularities and inappropriate treatment of pupils.
They also claimed that funds allocated for the school’s maintenance and management had not been utilised properly. Members of the newly constituted School Management Committee echoed these concerns.
The protesters warned that they would lock the school gates and intensify their agitation if their demand for the headmistress’s transfer was not met. Responding to the allegations, the headmistress denied any wrongdoing, describing the accusations as false and baseless.