By Ashish Ranjan Dash, OP
Jharsuguda: The Government Upper Primary School at Beheramal in Ward 11 of Jharsuguda Municipality is struggling with basic amenities, including drinking water, electricity and sanitation, causing hardship to students and resentment among parents.
Piped water supply to the school has remained suspended for the past six months. The electricity connection was disconnected about 15 days ago, leaving the water pump inoperative. Students are now forced to go to a nearby high school to fetch drinking water. The situation has prompted students and parents to demand immediate steps to address the problems.
Established in 1984, the school currently has 52 students in Classes VI, VII and VIII, down from 62 two years ago. The school has one headmistress and two female teachers. There are five rooms on the school premises. Two are used as classrooms for Classes VII and VIII.
Another room has been divided, with one section being used as the Class VI classroom and the other as the office. The remaining two rooms are used to store midday meal supplies and coal. The school has separate toilets for boys and girls. However, cracks have developed in the concrete on the outer walls, while the wash basins inside are non-functional. As the toilets are not cleaned regularly, they have become unhygienic and emit a foul smell. The absence of electricity has also made it difficult for students to sit in classrooms amid heat and humidity.
A few days ago, students were reportedly forced to sit in the school verandah while taking their half-yearly examinations. The school also has no playground, depriving students of opportunities to take part in sports and other outdoor activities. Headmistress Anita Patel said the school’s electricity connection was disconnected by the concerned department because about Rs 90,000 in electricity bills remained unpaid. Although the outstanding amount was reduced following discussions with the department, the school was not receiving adequate funds to pay its regular electricity bills, she said.
The government provides only Rs 24,000 a year as a contingency fund, which is insufficient to meet the school’s expenses on repairs, infrastructure and electricity bills, Patel said. She said some old school buildings were in a dilapidated condition and the District Collector had ordered their demolition. The water pipeline and electricity line passing through the buildings have already been affected, causing disruption to the school’s water and power supply, she said.
The matter has been reported to the CRCC, education department officials and the office of the District Education Officer, she added. Block Education Officer (BEO) Rabindra Majhi said he would comment on the matter after inspecting the school’s infrastructure. District Education Officer (DEO) Radhakanta Gadatia said electricity connections to some schools had been disconnected because of unpaid bills, but the issue would be resolved soon. He also said the drinking water and toilet problems at Beheramal school would be examined and necessary steps taken.