KV Correspondent

Power connections elude schools as govt gropes in the dark

Power connections elude schools as govt gropes in the dark
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Srinagar: At a time when examination halls are being asked to be provided with lighting facilities for the students more than 50 percent government schools in Baramulla district are without electricity connection.
As per the official figures, there are around 1459 government schools in the district out of which only 700 are electrified so far.
The schools are without electricity connection despite the government direction issued in 2016 to electrify all schools across state. The directions were issued post 2016 summer unrest during which around 32 government schools were gutted by arsonists.
However, two years after the instructions were issued, the schools are without electricity connection.
Baramulla is not the only district where the schools are without electricity but around 300 out of 520 government schools in Srinagar are without electricity facility exposing the poor state of affairs in the department.
Also, more than 80 percent schools in Budgam district are without electricity facility as well.
Notably, the schools are without basic facilities despite receiving annual grants from the Ministry of Human resource Development (MHRD) to equip the schools with basic facilities.
Recently the education department had to cut a sorry figure after the students of class 12th wrote their exams under candle light as the schools designated as their exam centres had no electricity facility.
The exams were held in dingy rooms and students were not able to write exam properly due to non-availability of electricity and other heating arrangement.
As per the official figures there are 23773 government schools- 13175 primary, 8140 middle, 1836 high schools and 622 higher secondary schools in J&K state. But most of the educational institutions are without electricity facility.
Moreover, around 2100 government schools across Kashmir are without toilet facility for students while as 3200, from primary to higher secondary level are without proper drinking water facilities.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo when contacted said the issue of non-electrification of schools will be resolved after convening a meeting with Chief Education Officers (CEOs).


KV Correspondent

Kashmir Correspondent cover all daily updates for the newspaper

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