Scores of students of a Saraswati Sishu Mandir on Monday staged a dharna by studying in front of the gate of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Mundali in Cuttack. The Saraswati Sishu Mandir was functioning from the premises of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya since a long time.
It is alleged that the future of the students has now been pushed into oblivion due to the decision to shift the school.
“Since 2003, the Sishu Mandir with government approval was running from Nabodaya Vidyalaya premises. But the current Principal with ill intention closed the school and is playing with students’ future,” Saroj Sahoo, a guardian alleged.
According to Sahoo, the headmistress had messaged the guardians that school will function normally today. But when they reached there, the Principal locked the gate, he said.
The Principal of Navodaya Vidyalaya, Ramraj Singh informed that a notice was issued some two months back to close the school as its building had become unsafe and it would pose threat to the students.
“We had asked to vacate as the building was unsafe and parents were duly informed in this regard. It is not my personal decision, rather it has been taken by Vidyalaya Management Committee,” said Singh.
(Reported by Sanjib Nayak)