Govt cancels licence of Gadchiroli ashram school where snakebite deaths occurred

The ashram school has been run by the Kuparlingo Educational and Cultural Development Research Institute in Gadchiroli since 1992. It is associated with former Congress MP Marotrao Kowase

MUMBAI: Following the deaths by snakebite of three students of an “ashram school” or government-run residential institution in Gadchiroli district on Sunday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered the school’s licence to be permanently cancelled. The CM also ordered the suspension of the tribal development department official who conducted a routine inspection of the institution and submitted a good report.

Govt cancels licence of Gadchiroli ashram school where snakebite deaths occurred

The accident happened late on Sunday night when over 50 girl boarders were asleep. A snake bit six students, of whom three died. The remaining three are undergoing treatment, with one in critical condition. It is learnt that the students were sleeping on the floor instead of beds.

The ashram school has been run by the Kuparlingo Educational and Cultural Development Research Institute in Gadchiroli since 1992. It is associated with former Congress MP Marotrao Kowase.

The state’s tribal development minister Ashok Uike raised the issue during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, pointing out that the school had neither a warden nor teachers, and was being run by two Class IV employees. “If leaders like Kowase, who has served as a three-time MLA and a one-time MP, are running ashram schools in this manner and compromising the safety of young girls, how can they be forgiven?” Uike is learnt to have said this during the meeting.

Responding to the minister, Fadnavis said the institution had failed to provide even basic facilities despite receiving government grants. “Cancel the school’s licence and suspend the official who inspected it,” he directed. The CM also instructed the chief secretary to convene a meeting and put together a comprehensive inspection mechanism of all such schools, and directed the tribal development department to carry out regular inspections of schools in remote and interior areas as well.

After the cabinet meeting, Uike assured stringent action against the organisation running the school. “All government-aided ashram schools across Maharashtra will undergo a third-party audit. Managements found to have failed in providing basic facilities to students will face strict action,” he told reporters.

Uike said that tribal development department officials conducted monthly inspections of ashram schools to ensure that they provided basic facilities to students. “In this case, the official who inspected the ashram school will also be investigated. Appropriate action will be taken if it is found that a false or misleading inspection report was submitted,” he said.

The opposition has blamed the government’s negligence for the incident and sought action against the tribal development minister. “The question is: was the tribal development asleep? If the ashram school was receiving government grants regularly, how were the girls found sleeping on the floor instead of on cots?” asked Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal.

Sapkal said the incident indicated that the minister was not serious about his responsibilities. “It was the government’s duty to monitor these institutions and ensure that students received basic facilities. In this case, it has completely failed,” he said. “This appears to be a case of corruption. The BJP government’s corrupt practices are responsible for such incidents.”