HYDERABAD: As the GHMC authorities razed a voluntary school for children of the underprivileged, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has approached the State Human Rights Commission alleging that the action would force as many as 100 kids to drop out.
The children are forced to study on the streets as the Alfa School at Jubilee Hills road number 22, was demolished by government authorities two days ago.
The Alfa School was established 14 years ago by Shobha Rani, to help provide education to around 150 children free of cost. The school which was built on the footpath is an illegal construction and was demolished by GHMC authorities Saturday, leaving the children with no place to study. The school caters to children of the needy including maids, drivers and workers of high profile people in the upmarket Jubilee Hills.
“There is no denying the fact that the construction is illegal, but it has been there for 14 years and nobody has objected to it, since noble work was being done and children were being taught for free. The reason for the sudden move is the fact that AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu is shifting to just 20 yards near the school and he would find it inconvenient to see children running around,” alleged Sudhakar, greater Hyderabad secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI).
CPI has filed a complaint to the State Human Rights Commission on Tuesday. “The government authorities are saying that they will enrol the children in a government school located at Borabanda, three kilometres away from here. How can they walk such long distances everyday?,” Sudhakar fumed.
Pointing out that this would discourage children from attending the school, he opined that the number of dropouts could increase.
“Instead of walking all the way to Borabanda, many children may drop out. They may be forced into child labour, or even opt for a life of crime. This is a dangerous situation,” Sudhakar added.
Alfa School founder and principal Shobha Rani, was equally vocal in her protest against the authorities and said they razed down the building without hearing their side. “I pleaded with the authorities to keep in mind the well-being of the children. However, they just barged in, asked the children to vacate and threw their bags on the road. They mercilessly demolished the building without even sparing a thought for the poor children and their families,” lamented an emotional Shobha.
Pointing out that it was a non-profit organisation providing free education to the children, she said the decision is even more baffling.
“We now have no choice but to conduct classes on the streets. We won’t be cowed down under any circumstances. I will continue to teach the children in the middle of the street,” Shobha added.
When contacted an official at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation claimed that they had served notice to the school authorities and when there was no response, they were forced to demolish the building. “We had given them a notice in February itself and also gave them several reminders. They refused to heed our words, so we had no choice but to demolish. We have made alternate arrangements to enrol the children in government schools,” said a senior GHMC official.