The Pioneer 02.12.2010
28,800 students forced to sit on floor for classesParvaiz Sultan | New Delhi
As a result of insensitivity of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, this winter season is going to be tough for nearly 28,800 students studying in various primary schools run by the civic body. Regardless of numerous directives of the Delhi High Court issued during last several years, the Corporation is still running 48 schools in tents. Consequently school kids ageing between 5-10 years have to brave extreme weather condition in coming days. In the absence of adequate infrastructure and availability of sufficient desks, they will also be compelled to sit on the floor.
A member of Monitoring Committee appointed by sthe Delhi High Court, advocate Ashok Agarwal, said in October 1998 the High Court had ordered to replace all tents in which schools were being run with pre-fabricated concrete structures but even after 12 years, the civic body has failed to comply with the court order.
“After that different benches time to time has asked MCD to improve infrastructure in its schools, but it is unfortunate that in number of schools, they could not provide proper basic amenities. Classrooms do not have windows, students sit on the floor. On Wednesday, the High Court again warned of imposition of exemplary cost if the conditions were not improved,” he said.
Though, Chairman Education Committee Dr Mahender Nagpal admitted 48 schools are still being run in tents but put entire blame on the Delhi government for the poor state of MCD’s school. He said due to the dearth of funds, the civic body failed to replace temporary shelters or tents with pucca structures.
“The Delhi Government does not release sufficient funds to the body therefore the projects of the body get delayed. For the same reason, we could not build required number of structures for our students. For present financial year, the government is to give Rs 192 crores under education head to MCD though we have received only Rs 96 crores so far,” said Nagpal.
The BJP councilor Wazirpur also added at 45 sites the construction of pucca structure is going on, which will be completed soon. He further added in view of the winter season, the Corporation has already given Rs 645 to each student to buy sweater, socks, woolen cap and uniform. “We are making arrangements for jute mattresses so that students will get relief from cold until proper structures are not completed. We are also planning to procure 70, 000 wooden desks for them but as funds are not being released, we are facing difficulties,” said he.
A senior MCD official of the education department, defending the civic agency for delay in providing pucca structure for students, said because of some land disputes, ongoing court cases or non allotment of land to MCD, it has not constructed adequate number of pucca accommodations. The MCD has 1,746 schools in which around 10 lakhs mostly belonging to weaker section gets education.
