Schoolchildren participate in the School Chale Hum Abhiyan in Ranchi on Wednesday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, April 23: A special drive in the morning to swell enrolments in government schools — School Chale Hum Abhiyan — has proved to be a nightmare for students and teachers.

Two middle schools in the capital reported three children of Class IV and V fainting in the scorching summer, while going door to door to lure kids back to school yesterday, under “Prabhat Pheri (morning rally)”.

The state on April 16 introduced the campaign under “Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (education-for-all campaign)” in which students of Classes I-V walk almost 7km every day with placards and posters to convince children to return to schools.

The campaign will go on till April 30.

Reeta Singh, a teacher of Government Middle School near Karamtoli Chowk, spoke of the plight of children.

“It gets very hot even as early as 6.30 in the morning and many children studying in our school belong to poor families who cannot afford water bottles,” she said.

She added that one of the students fainted in the campaign yesterday, which lasted till 8.30am.

“It has become very difficult for us to carry out such a rally, especially with children,” she rued.

Tomorrow, many students will have to go around carrying candles in their hands for the campaign.

A Class V student of Chhotanagpur Girls’ High School, Mani Tripathy, said they have to take out a balloon rally for two hours.

“We are suffering this year due to the excessive heat. Many of my friends have had heat stroke,” she added.

Malti Devi, a girls’ high school teacher, said the government should issue a notification for “Prabhat Pheri” during the evening.

“Our students get so tired after the Prabhat Pheri that they are unable to attend classes. The government schools lack even water facilities,” she added.

Parents have already approached school authorities to change the timings for the “Pheri”.

“My daughter, who studies in Chhotanagpur Girls’ High School has been having fever after returning from school,” said Lakshman Prasad, a government employee.

State HRD minister Bandhu Tirkey said it was not a cause for concern. “I have given a directive to all schools to send out children for the campaign in their own locality only,” he added.