PHULBANI: Alleging neglect, 85 tribal girls of Ashakiran High School, run by the ST and SC Development Department, in Tilori village under Daringbadi block left the hostel on Saturday.
Before leaving, the inmates pasted a hand-written poster on the school wall complaining about the irregularities in the hostel. The students complained that food was not given according to the menu and toiletries like soap, oil, toothpaste and other items are also not provided to them.
They further alleged that there was no proper electrification in the hostel and most of the rooms lacked fan and lights. Toiletries and other items meant for the inmates were kept in the house of the headmaster instead of the hostel store, the students alleged.
Moreover, the poster also revealed that when the inmates fell sick, they were taken to the headmaster’s house instead of a hospital. Sources said the girls took the step as the headmaster did not pay heed to their complaints.
On the other hand, school headmaster Dharanidhar Das refuted the allegations of the inmates and said due to high price of vegetables and other items, the menu has been changed.‘’Some employees of the school are conspiring to defame me,’’ he claimed. However, steps are being taken to bring back the girls to the hostel, he added. In-charge welfare officer of the school Pratap Mohanty said 38 girls returned to the hostel on Sunday.
Primary schools lack basic infra
Government-run primary schools perennially face the problem of poor infrastructure and shortage of teachers in industrial Jharsuguda district. Recently, several primary and upper primary schools faced
closure due to shortage of students.
