Deplorable conditions at Sunet govt school, 1.3K students forced to suffer

The Government Primary School in Sunet, which caters to around 1,300 students, is in a miserable state, thanks to the state government, which has halted disbursement of grants, bringing ongoing construction works to a halt, and to the school authorities, who have failed to maintain hygiene.

There are only about 23 teachers to teach the 1,300 students. As the students were studying in crammed rooms, grants for the construction of more rooms arrived. In its attempt to save money, the School Management Committee decided that rather than spending a lot of money on pillars or levelling the ground, it would be better to build a small basement that was some five feet deep and then cover it with a roof so that rooms could be built on top. The School Management Committee also hired a Junior Engineer for the entire process, and gave the final approval, Meena Rani, school in-charge, said.

But then the grants stopped, and everything came to a standstill.

This deep, dingy basement has now become a garbage dump. Following heavy rains, its roof gets filled with wild grass, algae and water, providing an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Dengue has already spread through the city, and these conditions could prove fatal for innocent students. A parent, who wished not to be quoted, said, “Look at the environment where our children study. The government boasts of providing the best facilities to students, but the lofty claims fall flat. There is no hygiene, and students study in inhumane conditions. However, we come from low-income background and cannot fight this issue. God forbid, if our wards become ill, no one will offer any financial assistance.”

Some teachers said there was no funding for such a basement, which was useless and had become a source of frustration.

However, the village sarpanch, Sunet Baldev Singh, said he had already donated approximately Rs 2.5 lakh from his own pocket to improve the school’s state. “I frequently visit the school. We will investigate the cleanliness issue for the rains have exacerbated the situation. School authorities must be vigilant and consistent in maintaining hygiene for the safety of their students,” Singh said.

The school in-charge was not present on campus but spoke over the phone. She said due to a lack of funds, the construction could not be completed. She added the small basement was built after consulting with the School Management Committee, which consisted of several members. “We will instruct the safai karamcharis to remove the weeds and stagnant water soon,” she added.