Activists want parties to focus on education, drug addiction

Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, September 25

The realpolitik of caste chemistry to reach the goalpost of a majority in Haryana has apparently pushed issues concerning people to the backstage ahead of Assembly elections. Though political parties come out with their manifestos, which remain on a piece of paper after the poll, groups of youngsters have tried to awaken politicians from their slumber over key problems of education and drug addiction afflicting Haryana.

Young social activist Umesh Sharma, along with a bunch of education enthusiasts, has been holding a dharna at Krantimaan Park in Hisar since September 19. He runs a remedial education system in Gangwa and Kaimari villages, besides Patel Nagar in Hisar, which has enrolment of 315 for about a year. “I realised that many Class VIII students of government schools were unable to read or write on a par with Class II and Class III student of private schools,” he said.

A BTech passout, he demanded top priority to school education. “It is the crisis situation on the education front that needs emergency course correction on a war footing. Go to rural segments and government schools to have a glimpse of the pathetic situation. We demand a special education relief fund with Rs 10,000 crore to be pumped into government schools and doubling of the existing budget of Rs 9,400 crore in the state,” he said.

Mrinal Yadav, a management graduate from the National University of Singapore, said the fate of 22 lakh children belonging to families lacking resources to send them to private schools was uncertain. “Poor results and poorer quality of education are rendering students useless and they may be driven to drugs and crime. Out-of-the-box ideas and efforts are required to save them and the state. We need 64,000 new teachers with proven skills teaching in private schools, CCTV access in every classroom and no extra workload on teachers to start with,” he said. “We have written to all political parties and leaders and are awaiting their response,” said Saurabh Chhabra, another youth on dharna.

Another dharna against drug abuse had been going on in Fatehabad. Activist Praveen Kashi, on indefinite fast since September 4, was hospitalised on Monday. Kanshi said drug addiction had become prevalent in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts, which should be declared special zone. “The youth, including school students, have been falling into the trap of drug peddlers. The government must construct a 100-bedded de-addiction hospital in Sirsa or Fatehabad and tighten provisions under the NDPS Act,” he said.

Prahladh Singh Gillakhera, former MLA from Fatehabad, said the situation was graver that was being considered by the district administration. “As per my information, between eight and 10 persons have died in the last couple of months in the district due to drug overdose. Chitta has penetrated schools in rural and urban areas. Police claims of seizure of chitta and other drugs is an eyewash,” he said. He said the Congress would draw an action plan to crack down on the drug racket after coming to power.