Shahimajra’s govt primary school without building for 40 years
Even as the Punjab government is stressing on bringing government schools on a par with private schools, the ground reality is totally different, especially in SAS Nagar. The authorities here have failed to allocate a proper place to the Government Primary School at Shahimajra village, which is operating from a dharamsala since the past four decades.
Even as the Punjab government is stressing on bringing government schools on a par with private schools, the ground reality is totally different, especially in SAS Nagar. The authorities here have failed to allocate a proper place to the Government Primary School at Shahimajra village, which is operating from a dharamsala since the past four decades.
As many as 177 children studying in the school are deprived of proper facilities, including a playground, and the pitiable condition of the school speaks volumes about the sorry state of affairs.
The dharamsala is also a ‘janj ghar’ and every time there is a wedding function, a holiday is declared in the school.
“For the last more than four decades, the school is operating from this dharamsala. I have sent several reminders to the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), but nothing has been done to date,” said councillor Ashok Jha.
Recently, GMADA, in response to one of the letters written by Jha, had asked him to earmark a place that could be allocated for the school. He added, “But the land identified by me was rejected on the grounds that it was part of a greenbelt.”
Moreover, due to non-payment of power bill amounting to Rs 7,800, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had disconnected the electricity connection to the school on Tuesday, leaving the students and staff to fend for themselves in the scorching heat. The power connection was restored after MC councillor Ashok Jha took up the matter with the PSPCL authorities.
“The electricity bill was submitted to the education department, which has failed to make the payment, resulting in disconnection of power,” said a teacher, on condition of anonymity.
“The education department should take strict action against the official responsible for non-payment of the bill,” said Jha.
After Phase-11 and Phase-1 government schools, this is the third school in SAS Nagar where the electricity connection has been disconnected due to non-payment of bill, despite assurance given by the PSPCL that power connections to schools will not be cut.
