Daringbadi: A government Sevashram school at Partamaha village under this block in Kandhamal district is reeling under a host of problems as its headmaster often plays truant even as the district administration continues to remain indifferent to its problems, a report said Wednesday.
Students have midday meals under the open sky while girls in the hostel live in a fearful condition in the absence of the headmaster who is also their superintendent. The girls are being guarded by their matron Pratima Pradhan.
The school has a provision for teaching from Class I to Class VIII with 276 students on its rolls. However, headmaster cum-hostel superintendent Brahma Kumar Behera often remains absent from the school, former managing committee member Belalasen Nayak said.
The locals Tuesday staged a road blockade 50 mtrs away from the school but the headmaster was not there to assuage the tempers.
Behera alleged the headmaster remains absent as he frequents between Partamaha and Phulbani. The headmaster could give more time to the school and attend to its problems had he been staying in the school’s hostel, Behera said.
Matron Pradhan is the only person to look after the problems of students. They are living in a constant state of fear as the lady matron will not be able to guard them if any untoward incident occurs.
Moreover, the students are served food including midday meals under the open sky in the midst of stray dogs as the school does not have a dining hall.
This goes on throughout the year despite the authorities being aware of the hazards of having food under the open sky. Behera said earlier students were served food in a classroom but the authorities decided to serve it in open as students had to often clean the classroom which was soiled after eating food.
The school recently had a main gate and toilet built in its campus and the drinking water problems were resolved following repeated demands of people. However, the girls’ hostel lying close to the boys’ hostel with quarters of male staff around has stoked fear over security of female inmates.
The fears are not unfounded as there are several instances when female inmates in Kandhamal district have been subjected to molestation and rape by male acquaintances in their school, Behera said.
When contacted, the headmaster rejected the charges stating that he visits his home on holidays and remains in the school in other times. Matron Pradhan said students are served non-vegetarian food in open while they are served vegetarian food inside a classroom. PNN