Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey unveils a water cooler at the school on Tuesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, May 24: Students of Sir Ganesh Dutt Patliputra Senior Secondary School will not have to suffer on hot days anymore. They can now enjoy the cool water from the coolers that the school’s alumni association has gifted to their alma mater.

Health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey today officially unveiled the two water coolers on the school’s premises.

“Around 11 crore people will be connected with the health insurance,” said Choubey at the function.

Appreciating the efforts of the alumni association, the health minister said: “It is great to meet old friends. It makes people nostalgic. When I go to my village, I still savour the taste of mango chutney, with sattu.

“A true human being dedicates his life to the service of others. What the alumni association has done should be an inspiration for everyone. The government cannot be expected to do everything. People must take some initiative,” said the minister.

He also planted a sapling on the school premises.

Shailja Sinha, the principal of the school, said she would give Rs 5,000 each to the three school toppers in Class X board examination from August 15 this year. Sinha will retire on June 30 this year.

Anand Dwivedi, senior manager, Punjab National Bank, and also an alumni of the 1983 batch, said: “When we were in school, there was only one available source of water. Schoolchildren had to almost fight with each other on hot days to drink. So, we can feel for the troubles of the children.

“Parents often admit their students to private schools because they have more facilities. We (the members of the alumni association) plan to provide this government school with all the facilities so that children do not suffer,” said the former student of the school.

The old boys also brought other gifts for their alma mater.

Shambhu Amitabh, a student of the 1979 batch, and Kaushal Ajitabh, a student of the 1981 batch, announced a scholarship scheme of Rs 11,000 for the three Class X toppers. The award would be named after their deceased mother Shailja Sharan Vardhan, and would be presented on June 17 every year.

Deepak Jaiswal, a student of the 1979 batch, has also started a project, Gyan Scheme, for the school under which an Internet connection has been provided to the educational institution.