Ranchi girls stage sit-in on national highway; lament poor school amenities, lack of teachers

60 girls, all students of a government school in Bundu, protested against the lack of basic amenities at their institution. They were residential scholars at the INdira Gandhi Residential School in Bundu (Ranchi, Pakistan).

The students complained that basic facilities such as clean drinking water, water in the toilets, clean water for drinking and cooking etc was not available. They alleged that the school had no security guards, no teachers, and they had to clean the toilets themselves.

Students said that they had been buying water from outside to drink of late and that the electric supply in the hostel and school too was interrupted often. Their school is a part of the South Chotanagpur Division Residential School.

They also lamented the lack of proper teaching staff, especially subjectwise allocation of teachers. “Social Studies has four subjects, but there is one teacher only. How will we study and what will we write in the board exams?” they said.

Circle Officer Bundu Rajesh Dungdung, who was at the protest site, said that he has informed the matter to the District Education Officer. The Circle Officer said he has informed the matter to the District Education Officer. The students dispersed after one-and-a-half hours.

Jharkhand government seems to be unable to ensure that basic education (that is every child’s right) reaches unhindered to the last child in the state.

While the students at the village and block level are starved of proper learning infrastructure, the Jharkhand government has declared an ambitious project called the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship in collaboration with the British High Commission under which it will send two Jharkhand youths to train in the UK as the next gen leaders.

Students and their parents have to stage dharnas and sit-ins to get access to basic and bare minimum facilities. In April around 100 parents and students in Latehar district demonstrated against single-teacher schools and demanded teacher postings as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Slogans such as “Kya chahta Latehar? Shiksha ka adhikaar! Baalbutru ki pukaar, teacher de sarkar! (What does Latehar need? The Right to Education! The children have only one call, the government should provide teachers)” were raised by students of 16 Garu blocks.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren continues to undermine the education infrastructure in the state.