Lack of toilet in Sundargarh schools exposes govt's 'apathy' for students

World Toilet Day is being celebrated today, and we are discussing how to improve existing sanitation facilities. But, there are many out there who still cry for these basic amenities. A case in point is the recent report from Odisha where students are allegedly suffering due to lack of toilet facilities in their school.

Reportedly, a toilet has long been on the wish list of the students of hundreds of schools in 15 panchayats under Koira block in Sundargarh district. The Government Upper Primary School, located at Malda village under Koira block in Sundargarh district is one such school.
 
A mere peep into the school campus will be enough to figure out the students’ sufferings. With the school not having toilet facilities, the students, particularly girls, are facing inexplicable problems. The lack of toilet forces the students to go outside.

The school’s condition is also in a pathetic state. While walls have been dug open, patches of cement slabs are missing from the roofs. Regarding the condition of the kitchen, is less said the better. On any day, students can be found having their mid-day meal under a tree. 

“A contractor has done all this; he had assured to complete construction within a month. But he quit leaving all the work mid way,” alleged Sahadeba Mohanta, headmaster of the school.

The other two schools having the same fate are Gidei Project Primary School at Gidei village and Government Upper Primary School at Mandajoda. Here the students are at the receiving end due to the alleged whimsical attitude of the concerned contractors. 

“Our class rooms’ roofs are leaking so we can’t sit when it rains. Pieces of bricks are also falling on us,” rued a girl student. 

The interesting fact is that the headmasters are in dark as to what the project costs are, who the contractors are and when will they complete the construction work. 

On the other hand, the Cluster Resource Centre Coordinator (CRCC ) of Malda cluster blamed the contractors for the schools’ present state of affairs. 

“There are 13 schools in Malda cluster. And all the schools are in a pathetic state. The contractors have left the construction works mid way, causing a lot of problems for the students. Teachers are at a loss as to how they will teach the students,” said Nirakar Pati, CRCC, Malda. 

When contacted, Koira block development officer (BDO) Pallabi Rani Raj said, “The renovation works of primary and upper primary schools are being carried out under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF). We recently carried out an inspection of the construction works. Children are facing problems. But the delay in getting the renovation work was caused by rainy season.”

“The contractors have been asked to complete the works within a month so that the students won’t have problems,” she added.