Six years on, school awaits building in Karnal; students study on mats in cold

Parveen Arora

Karnal, February 8

Nearly six years after the announcement by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to start a government primary school in Sector 16, students and teachers are still waiting for the building and furniture, forcing them to sit on mats in the cold.

Presently, the school operates from a temporary building at a dharamshala, with only two halls available, causing inconvenience to students. The school has three teachers for 118 students across five classes.

Responding to the demands of residents, the CM had announced the school’s establishment in January 2018, which eventually commenced in April 2018 from two rooms at a polyclinic building.

Later, the school began functioning from Ravidas Dharamshala.

Additionally, the building lacks adequate space to prepare midday meals, necessitating meals to be brought from a government primary school by a teacher.

“Land has been transferred to the school, and we are hopeful that work will commence soon. We have informed the authorities about the lack of desks, and we have been assured that these will be available soon,” said Amarjeet Singh, incharge of the school.

The authorities claim that efforts are being made to ensure facilities at the school. “We have visited the school and will ensure all necessary facilities are provided soon,” said Sudesh, District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO). She said the tender process for the construction of the building had been initiated, and the work would be allotted soon.

Neeraj, Junior Engineer of the department, mentioned that a budget of Rs 1.5 crore had been approved, and the building would be constructed on 0.75 acres.