Awareness rally

Ranchi, April 29: School Chalein Hum Abhiyan, as the campaign slogan suggests, is the state government’s way of promoting enrolment in schools.

Only, it can’t provide fans and drinking water in most of its primary schools.

Ask the men in-charge and they’ll display the rule book — no funds have been provided for fans.

As for water, something will have to be done, they deigned to admit.

“Fans are a dream for us,” said a teacher of Rajkiyakrit Vidyalaya, Kokar, pointing to the empty ceiling in classrooms, though facilities for installing fans are all there in the form of power points and hooks.

For most government schools in the state — exceptions are few — fans are a luxury item. Even drinking water is a distant dream.

Teachers said their children had to go to nearby houses to drink water.

“The borewell on campus is not functioning for several months. Children go to neighbours for water. We also get water from nearby homes to cook midday meals,” said a teacher of Rajakiyakrit Vidyalaya, Kantatoli.

Right now, the children admitted under the Abhiyan scheme seem to be the worst sufferers. They are the year’s first batch, having started classes — Class I-V — at a time when summer temperatures are peaking.

Government officials admitted there were no fans in 90 per cent of primary schools across the state.

Worst, they have no clue when, if at all, fans would be fitted.

“The government has not made provisions for providing fans in primary schools. Fan connections could become a reality only if funds are allotted under this head,” said Ashok Kumar Sharma, the Ranchi district education officer.

Significantly, the Jharkhand High Court has ordered the government to ensure that fans were installed and drinking water facilities provided in all schools of the state.

But government officials are oblivious of the order.

Primary education director P.C. Mishra resorted to similar official expla- nations to shrug off responsibility.

There was no separate budgetary allocation for fans and borewells this year.

“But as the heat has become unbearable, we will discuss the issue of fans and drinking water at a department meeting soon and try and find a solution. The borewells in some schools also need repair,” Mishra said.