Art students wear helmets to class

The 150-year-old Rajasthan School of Arts is in such a dilapidated condition that many students have to wear helmets to class to protect themselves from chunks of plaster falling off the ceiling.

The 150-year-old Rajasthan School of Arts is in such a dilapidated condition that many students have to wear helmets to class to protect themselves from chunks of plaster falling off the ceiling.

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"We have to wear helmets. Last month, our colleague Arun Kumar Kholia was injured when some plaster fell on him," said undergraduate student Tej Prakash Singh.

Though some of the classrooms are in very bad shape, classes have to be held in them because of a shortage of space, Singh said.

"We students are so scared that we're not able concentrate on our studies. We always fear some plaster and limestone could fall from the ceiling," said Ajay Singh Shekhawat.

Many students do their work at their home or in studios but they have to come to college to attend classes, he said.

Member of the institute's building committee Ekeshwar Prasad Hatwal said the college has been demanding a new building for several years but to no avail.

The Jaipur Development Authority is supposed to erect a new building and take care of the present one as a heritage building.

But so far, there's nothing on the canvas.