Even student’s death fails to move officials

Mahabubnagar: It has been almost two years since a Class 10 student of the Social Welfare Residential School at Madanapuram village died after falling in a ditch when he had gone in search of water for attending nature’s calls.

The school continues to lack basic facilities of water and toilets even two years after the tragic death. All the students still go out in search of water for answering nature’s calls.

“There have not been proper toilet facilities in the school since I joined. The officials began construction of the toilets in the school one month ago, and they are yet to be completed. All the inmates go out for attending nature’s calls. There is no security to the school during nights. There is no permanent water facility for the school and water is being supplied through tankers,” says Pranay an VIII standard student.

“The school premises are not clean. Though there were toilets in the school earlier, they became useless due to poor maintenance. We are still forced to go out as toilets are being constructed. The officials should complete building of the toilets early and ensure their proper maintenance,” another student Chakri explains.

When contacted, school principal Satyanarayana Reddy said that they would complete the construction of toilets within a week. “The government has sanctioned Rs 7 crore under SC/ST Sub-Plan for improving facilities in the school. Compound wall, a kitchen and dormitories will be constructed by using the funds soon. We are taking steps to provide better facilities to the students,” he informed.

It may be recalled that the Class X student D Prasad, son of Ramakrishnamma belonging to Ponnakal village of Addakula mandal in the district, died under tragic circumstances in June 2011. He was the only son of the daily wage labourer. His mother had admitted him in the school in 2003.

As she lost her husband, she along with her younger son migrated to Hyderabad and began working as a contract labourer at Kachiguda Railway Station.

The death of her son shattered her world; she longed to provide a decent life to her son by educating him. Angered by the apathy of the government in not heeding her umpteen pleas for adequate compensation, she filed a petition in the High Court, seeking justice.

Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy of the AP High Court on Tuesday directed Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) to file an affidavit, detailing the steps taken as well as envisaged to provide all necessary basic facilities in government schools.