Govt school shifted to Guru’s abode

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 12

The District Education Office has issued directions to the Government Primary School, Jagirpur, to hold classes at langar hall of a local gurdwara following the intervention of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).

The SCPCR acted upon the complaint of a Ludhiana-based resident Ajay Sharma on Thursday and the DEO released instructions on Friday. The Public Works Department had earlier declared six out of seven classrooms unsafe.

The letter directs the school head to shift classes to a local gurdwara or government building by taking permission from the Jagirpur village panchayat and Municipal Corporation.

According to the school head, the Education Department hurried the process only after the SCPCR pulled up the officials concerned.

However, the students are bound to suffer if langar hall is occupied on working days. Manmohanjit Singh, school head said, “Now that we have received a letter from the Education Department, we have arranged seating space for students at langar hall of a local gurdwara. But whenever there will be a function on working days, we will have to vacate the premises.”

He said, “Where will I take 250 children? We were supposed to commence classes here on Monday but there is a function at gurdwara till noon. As a result, we will have to take classes at school.”

Manmohanjit added that there has been now word of grant by the department and the problem will persist for many months more.

Meanwhile, the SCPCR chairman Sukesh Kalia has summoned authorities concerned on August 23 for hearing of the case.

The Ludhiana Tribune highlighted deplorable condition of the school building on July 28.