58% Srinagar schools without power : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

58% Srinagar schools without power

SRINAGAR: After pictures of students writing exams under candlelight went viral earlier this month, it brought to the fore an important issue of lack of electricity in the majority of schools in the Valley.



Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 30

After pictures of students writing exams under candlelight went viral earlier this month, it brought to the fore an important issue of lack of electricity in the majority of schools in the Valley.

Despite harsh winter conditions in Kashmir, majority of schools lack proper electricity and heating facilities.

“Parents are forced to appeal for the early closure of schools because there is no heating facilities available,” said an insider in the department of education.

Survey ‘School education in India’ published in 2016 by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration and the Ministry of Human Resource Development had concluded that only 31 per cent government schools in J&K had electricity. Two years after the publication of the report, the scenario is no different.

Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the director, school education, Kashmir, over lack of basic facilities for students in schools.

The directions of the SHRC came after the submission of a petition by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an RTI activist. In its notice, the commission directed the department to file a report on the matter.

As per official records, 58 per cent government schools in Srinagar district are without power supply. In Budgam, 1,036 out of 1,294 government schools do not have electricity. In addition, 940 schools are without fencing and boundary walls, while 248 schools don’t have water supply.

The situation is no different in Anantnag district, where out of 1,564 government schools, 1,271 are without electricity. As many as 1,065 schools don’t have a boundary wall, while 314 don’t have drinking water facility.

“This is the story of every district,” an insider in the department said.

During the session of the J&K Legislative Assembly in January, former education minister Syed Altaf Bukhari had said out of 23,773 schools in the state, 17,901 didn’t have electricity. The situation at present is almost the same.

An official said the state needed estimated Rs 3,000 crore to develop proper infrastructure for state schools. During the 2018-19 Budget, some Rs 200-300 crore were earmarked for upgrading the school infrastructure, he said.

Habibullah Shah, assistant professor, directorate of distance education, Kashmir University, wrote in his paper titled ‘School education in Jammu and Kashmir: issues and concerns’ published in journal ‘Educational Quest’ in April, “Teacher unions/organisations should think about donating at least one or two days’ salary every year for the development of school infrastructure and teaching-learning material on a voluntary basis.”

A senior official from the department of education said providing electricity to schools would be their priority.

"We have already discussed the issue of electricity in schools. We have made the estimates and this problem will be sorted out. There was a problem of funds and now we have a meeting next week regarding the revised budget," Dr GN Itoo, director, school education, said.

Stark reality

  • 1,036 out of 1,294 government schools in Budgam district do not have electricity
  • 940 schools without fencing and boundary walls in the district
  • 248 schools don’t get water supply
  • 1,271 out of 1,564 government schools in Anantnag without electricity
  • 1,065 schools do not have a boundary wall
  • 314 without drinking water facility

Top News

Arvind Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, ‘I am named by 4 witnesse...

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

The bench refuses to comment on merits of the issue, saying ...

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

MEA spokesperson says India is proud of its independent and ...

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi, backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine public trust in judiciary

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi

Backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine publi...

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Gujarat court sentences former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in 1996 drug case

Bhatt, who was sacked from the force in 2015, is already beh...


Cities

View All