Ajay Sharma
Sunder bani October 11
Plunging lives of the students in peril, authorities in school education department have reportedly turned blind eye towards the crumbling structure at Government Middle School (GMS) Nahoti in Rajouri.
According to locals, the condition of the school paints a grim picture of neglect by education authorities.
“The deteriorated structure of Government Middle School Nahoti is hazardous. It is filthy, and on the brink of collapse,” said locals, adding that cracked walls and piles of rubble accumulated over “several years,” exacerbated by recent heavy monsoons narrates the entire story.
They said the school, serving dozens of primary and middle-level students from nearby villages, lacks even basic facilities like a proper playground.
“Students are forced to play on adjacent open patches or amid the hazardous surroundings,” locals emphasized, adding that the students pass through the sharp and scattered debris just to enter the premises.
“If a student gets hurt here – or worse, if some part of this structure falls on them as they pass by – whose responsibility will it be?” locals questioned.
They accused the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) of turning blind eye towards the looming threat.
Despite repeated pleas to ZEO, Lower Hathal, Babu Ram for action, nothing was done
“Notices and resolutions have been sent from the school side to demolish this structure entirely and clear the debris,” locals said and added that yet, under the ZEO’s watch, nothing has moved.
They alleged that ZEO is not even ready to listen and take any responsibility.
“In a recent incident where scholarship files for students mysteriously vanished from the ZEO office, the officials including ZEO, Babu Ram shrugged off the responsibility,” said locals, quoting ZEO, they said, “It is not my responsibility to run the zone – that’s for headmasters and in-charge teachers.”
They asked, what exactly is the duty of ZEO? Just to sit on an empty chair, enjoy the perks, and draw a salary from the government exchequer?
Locals have requested the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhishek Sharma, to probe the Chief Education Officer and ZEO’s role.
“These two officers should be questioned, why their eyes remain shut even after formal notices. Tomorrow, if disaster strikes, the blame lies solely with those who ignored the warnings – not teachers or headmasters,” said locals.
