Bhubaneswar: Around 250 students of Bishipur Ashram School hostel in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district walked out of the campus on Monday, alleging prolonged problems relating to drinking water, electricity and food quality
According to the students, they have been facing problems of drinking water and power supply for more than two months, while food served at the hostel was of very poor quality. Rice provide in the hostel is often infested with insects and bugs, they claimed.
Claiming that they had repeatedly informed hostel officials and the matron about the problems, the inmates said the matron brought the matter to the notice of the school headmaster as well. However, no concrete step was taken to resolve the issues.
The inmates levelled allegations against the headmaster, claiming that he sometimes comes to the school in an inebriated condition and allegedly abuses them.
Fed up with the alleged lack of action, the hostel inmates decided to meet the Welfare Extension Officer (WEO) and district Education Department officials to place their grievances directly before them. They walked over eight kilometres from the hostel for the purpose.
While they were proceeding along the Udala-Baripada State Highway, police and school authorities stopped them and tried to persuade them to return. However, the students remained firm and continued their march to meet the officials.
They have reportedly warned that if their problems are not addressed, they may proceed further to meet the District Collector, around 27 kilometres away.
