DEO asked to make sure govt schools have sweepers

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 8

The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked DEO (Elementary) to ask the Municipal Corporation to appoint sweepers for government primary schools.

The child rights panel issued orders (copy with Tribune) after a video of students lifting garbage in Government Primary School, Baba Shri Chand Colony, went viral. The commission has asked DEO Elementary to write to district development and panchayat officer to provide sweepers to government schools in rural areas.

The heads of primary schools have been complaining about shortage of sweepers in primary government schools hitherto. Some schools in Ludhiana have made mid-day meal workers volunteer duties of sweeper in schools. Rajinder Pal, Principal of Government Primary Girls School, Kila Raipur, said: “We do not have a sweeper and our school is quite big. We ask our mid-day meal workers to clean the school and then we pay her extra. We need a sweeper for our school.”