BARIPADA: Students of a government ashram school in Mayurbhanj district on Tuesday walked for over 3 km to meet the local block development officer (BDO) demanding action against the headmaster and an assistant teacher.
Over 60 students of Patharanesa Ashram school in Kantisahi panchayat under Suliapada block alleged that the quality of food served at the residential school was poor since the past few months. The children claimed they were served insect-infested ladoos while the school regularly provided substandard meals.
They also alleged that phenyl was not used to disinfect the school premises and hostel rooms, resulting in unhygienic conditions and increasing the risk of the spread of germs.
The students further alleged that whenever they raised these issues with headmaster, he threatened to issue them transfer certificates and send them back home.
The students also accused an assistant teacher of repeatedly asking inappropriate and explicit questions in the classroom, making them uncomfortable during classes. They alleged that on Monday, the teacher punched a Class VII student in the stomach, causing him severe pain.
Acting on the allegations, Sulipada BDO Lakshmisagar Majhi, IIC Satyanarayan Bal, BEO Rashmiranjan Giri and ABEO Jagannath Nayak visited the ashram school and conducted an investigation.
On the other hand, school headmaster Neelamadhab Dalei dismissed the allegations as false.
