CHENNAI:After City Express reported about the dilapidated condition of quarter-century-old Government High School in Kodungaiyur, VA Tech Wabag Ltd, an Indian MNC total water management company, has come forward and constructed new toilets on the school campus and installed RO water system at the cost of around Rs 7 lakh. The report Where there is will, But No Wall was published on October 28, 2014.
The school, which began functioning in 1988, put up a commendable show in the State Board Examination this year, with a pass percentage of 94 per cent. Enrolment of students have gone down over the years, while the number of classrooms have been reduced to six from 12 . The abandoned classrooms had become a safe haven for tipplers. The school headmaster’s room and also the compound were in a dilapidated condition, the CE report had highlighted.
As part of its CSR activities, the company came forward and offered to help. “This was a school for children from poor families in the neighbourhood, as they cannot afford to send their children to private schools. We had sent our people to check the place. We wanted to construct a compound wall, but the school management said that the work would be done by the School Education Department through PWD. They instead asked us to set up a RO water system, as there was no proper drinking water facility in the school, and for toilet facilities, as the present toilets were in a bad condition. So, we fulfilled their requirements,” said TV Gopal, spokesperson of the company.
On July 7, A Anitha, Chief Educational Officer, Chennai, and S Varadarajan, executive director, finance, VA Tech Wabag Ltd, inaugurated the facilities.
Meanwhile, the school management said that the School Education Department had allotted
Rs 8 lakh and repaired the floor in the principal’s room, apart from whitewashing the building. Rewiring work was also done a couple of months ago with last year’s funds.
However, the school’s compound wall and the wall of the principal’s room are in the same condition and officials are waiting for funds.
T Devaraj, Assistant Director Buildings, Directorate of School Education Department, said, “Around Rs 40 crore has been allotted by the State this year for all the schools in 32 districts. This school’s needs will also be met this year.”