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Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, February 18
Providing safe and secure perimeter to students in schools is the utmost priority of the government. But, government schools in Ludhiana district present a bleak picture, as more than 50 schools do not have boundary walls.
The Education Department and the state government are least bothered about the security of students it seems. The reasons cited for not constructing boundary walls are land disputes and financial crunch.
Principal Taskeen Akhtar of Government Senior Secondary School said: “We have a broken boundary wall. Locals are not allowing us to construct the wall, as it will devoid them from a parking space. We tried to build a wall, but residents clashed with workers. Even the councillor did not support us. Recently, we conducted a mock drill and fire extinguisher could not enter from the main gate owing to encroachment. In case of mishap, students will find it difficult to exit the school premises.”
Various school heads felt that anybody can walk into the campus and harm students in the absence of boundary walls. Neeru Burman, Principal, GSSS, Mangli Nichi said: “Washrooms in the school are located on the back side and without a proper boundary wall, the risk increases manifold. What if the students are harmed by some anti-social element?” She said no additional grant had been provided by the authorities to construct rooms and boundary wall.
Rakesh Kumar, Principal, Government Senior Secondary School, Bija, said: “As there is no boundary wall, villagers enter the school premises with their vehicles and use it as a passage.”
Gurpreet, in-charge of GPS Ghundani, said: “There is agricultural land adjacent to the school. Stray animals enter the premises and can even harm students.”
While the Central government has been laying emphasis on Beti-Bachao, Beti Padhao, a primary girl’s school in Kila Raipur faces a similar problem. “Despite being a girl’s school, there is no boundary wall and any one can enter,” the school head said.
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