This Odisha school has 13 toilets for 23 students, but no boundary wall 

There are 13 toilets for 23 students. Yes, you heard that right. Marchima Primary School under Mohana block in Gajapati district has a total of 23 students and, for them, it has not one or two but 13 toilets. 

Marchima Primary School was established in this year (2023). The institution is located along the National Highway 326. A total of 23 students are reading here in classes from Class I to V. 

The school being a primary one, children of 5 to 10 age group are coming to the schools. Since the school is yet to have a boundary wall, the parents back at home are worried about their children as long as their children are away in the school. 

The cause of their headache is the National Highway 326 and the school devoid of a boundary wall. In their recess time, the children play on the ground in front of their school while hundreds of vehicles ply on the national highway. 

There is the possibility of vehicles veering towards the school and causing injuries to the students and teachers. Fortunately, no such mishap has so far occurred. But that doesn’t mean that such a mishap wouldn’t happen. 

While the school is devoid of a boundary wall, which is most important for the safety of the students, 13 toilets for 23 students have reportedly been constructed, which was not necessary at all. 

“Since our school doesn’t have a boundary wall, accidents may happen at any moment as our school is close to a national highway. In the absence of a boundary wall, we are always in fear of meeting with an accident,” said a Class V student, Hemanta Nayak.  
The headmistress of the school also admitted that the students are not safe in the school. 

“In our school, the students are not safe. Vehicles are always plying on the national highway, which is in front of our school. There is a great possibility of mishap as students often run towards the road while playing,” said Sanjukta Singh, headmaster of the school. 

When contacted, Mohana BEO, Narendra Behera said, “It is a matter of concern that the school doesn’t have a boundary wall even though it is located by the side of the national highway. We will take steps to construct a boundary wall around the school.”

Whoever visits the school is taken aback to see so many toilets for so less students and they can’t help making a mockery of the administration for its lack of farsightedness.