Daringbadi: Hostel inmates of Siangbali high school under this block in Kandhamal district are fighting hard to get two square meals a day and have to manage with only rice and salt served to them by the authorities.
Thanks to the apathy of the school and the hostel authorities, inmates of Ramakrushna model hostel in the school are not only served with sub-standard food but are also forced to live in unhygienic condition on the hostel premises.
Sources said, the school having a provision for teaching from Class-VIII to Class-X has a strength of 119 students. While students of Class-X have left for their homes after the HSC examination, only 96 students now reside in the hostel and bear the brunt of the torture.
This is a regular event for hostel inmates. Protests would result in further torture by the school authorities of the students forcing them to remain silent. They alleged that the authorities instead of spending the money provided by the state government on their welfare usurp it for their benefits.
They are even forced to cook food and simultaneously wash soiled utensils like large cauldrons at the school tube-well.
This has taken a toll on their health as many of them suffer from scabies and various other skin related diseases.
Students alleged that during daytime they are twice served with food. While they are served with rice and watery dal at 9 am they have to manage with just rice and salt in afternoon.
A student on condition of anonymity said the authorities even ask them to go to the nearby jungle and collect firewood for cooking.
This has affected their studies. They alleged that the authorities force them to perform all their chores under a single tube-well instead of installing another tube-well.
When contacted, block development officer (BDO) Sunakar Sharma admitted to the problem and assured to take remedial steps. PNN
