Berhampur: Students and their parents locked the gate of a primary school in Odisha’s Ganjam district and staged a sit-in protest over its crumbling infrastructure on Thursday.
Shyamasundarpur Palli primary school in Digapahandi block caters to around 62 students from pre-primary (Shishu Vatika) to Class V. However, it operates with just a single classroom, forcing children of all age groups and levels to study and even eat mid-day meals in the same confined space. “How can students of different classes study in a single classroom? There are two to three teachers for all the students. Cooking (for mid-day meals), teaching, even eating mid-day meals happens in one room,” an agitating guardian told a local news channel.
The protest disrupted normal school operations as demonstrators warned they would continue until concrete action is taken.
The parents further alleged that despite repeated appeals to local authorities, including the panchayat, Block Development Officer (BDO), and sub-collector, their grievances have remained unaddressed.
The Assistant Block Education Officer (ABEO) visited the site to assure and pacify the protesters. “I have informed the officials concerned . The tender process will be completed within a week and construction will start thereafter,” the officer stated, adding that work is expected to begin within 15 days.
