Malkangiri: Students of Tarlakota residential school in Korukonda block of the district jumped over school boundary wall in the middle of the night and walked for miles in order to convey their school-related grievances to the district collector.
According to sources, braving winter chill and without having food during the night, around 40 tribal students of the residential school took to streets protesting lack of electricity connection and drinking water facility at their hostel at around 11 pm in the night yesterday.
Asked about the incident, students complained that repeated requests were made to the local authorities to address the issues, but no step has been taken.
“The administration has provided security and kitchen facilities to the girls’ hostel. However, no such facilities were given to the boys' hostel. We have not eaten anything today as we want to first apprise the Collector about our school-related woes,” said a student.
Later the students returned to their school after the villagers stopped them and informed the matter to the police.
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"We had informed the block and district level authorities about the problems on September 5 earlier. But they are yet to be resolved," said the local sarpanch.
“The main problems are the absence of a cook and warden at their hostel and lighting facilities,” he said.
Korukonda IIC said the higher-ups have been informed about the incident and the matter will be resolved at the earliest.