JHARSUGUDA: Putting their lives at risk, children of Jharsuguda district continue to study in dilapidated school buildings which were declared unsafe more than five years back.The report of a survey conducted by the State Government in 2012 revealed that 126 schools in Lakhanpur block and Belpahar municipality were completely unsafe. Subsequently, the Education department directed the district administration to carry out repair work in some schools and dismantle others. However, the administration is yet to comply with the direction till date.
As per reports, Secretary of School and Mass Education Usha Padhee on December 29, 2012 had directed all Collectors to immediately dismantle unsafe buildings in their respective districts and construct new ones. This direction came in the wake of a judgment of the Orissa High Court following a PIL over non-repair of unsafe school buildings in the State.
Despite the direction, students continued to use unsafe school buildings in Lakhanpur and Belpahar. Again in 2014, Additional Director (Planning) of OPEPA Ranjan Satpathy directed all District Project Coordinators to either repair or dismantle unsafe buildings before rainy season. Later in the year, OPEPA Superintending Engineer (Civil) Rasmiranjan Ray also asked Project Coordinators of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to carry out necessary repair works in dilapidated buildings with assistance of MLA/MPLAD and other funds. However, the district administration is yet to comply with the direction despite repeated missives from the State Government.
Contacted, Lakhanpur Block Education Officer (BEO) Rabiratan Bar said due to lack of any alternative arrangement, students are attending classes in unsafe structures. If the existing buildings are dismantled without constructing new ones, students will be forced to study in the open, the BEO said and added that he has already submitted a report to the District Education Officer in this regard.
Meanwhile, locals have urged the administration to provide assistance from District Mineral Fund for repair of the unsafe buildings and construction of new ones.