 Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, May 3: Exposing the tall claims of Education Department, Government Middle School Athanadan in this famed tourist destination functions from a tin shed.
Established in 1997 as Primary School and later upgraded to Middle level in 2009, the school was functioning from a rented building till last year, officials told ET.
However, they said, a circular banning the use of private buildings chucked the students from the rented building in 2015.
They said that High Court Directive banning all sort of construction in and around Pahalgam is the main reason behind the delay in constructing a building for the school in the village which is near to famous Betab Valley having over 60% population.
School, with five teachers, has a total roll of 70 students, they added.
A teacher pleading anonymity said that all eight classes function in a single tin-shed. "You can imagine how difficult it is to manage eight classes in single tin-shed," he said.
He said that unpleasant weather forces them to keep the school off as rains pose a serious threat to children.
"We have no toilet, no play ground, no water facility and children suffer a lot in the school," he added
Residents however accused Pahalgam Development authority of brining hurdles in constructing the building.
"Why PDA isn't allowing us to construct the building for school when they allowed influential to construct luxurious hotels, huts and corporate buildings," residents said.
Many youth hailing from Athanadan village expressed their anger on social networking sites.
"New hotels are being constructed, existing is being renovated but our children are suffering due to non-availability of a school building," Altaf Hussain, one among internet users wrote.
He later informed ET that villagers have agreed to construct the building on very low rates but PDA is bringing hurdles.
"Villagers were given Rs 12 lakh for constructing eight rooms, they agreed despite knowing that rates are too high and department is currently providing Rs 13 lakh for constructing three rooms but they agreed just because their children are suffering,"
A PDA official on being contacted said that they have to oblige Court directions at any cost.
However, Chief Education Officer Anantnag, Ghulam Rasool Shah said that they have a CMP in High Court in this regard.
"I met Advocate General in this regard besides as filed CMP.
We are hopefull that High Court will pass the directions in favor of department and allow us to construct the buildings," he said, adding they face same problem in other areas of Pahalgam including Aru Valley. |
