With the demolition of old and dilapidated school building, the long-awaited renovation of the government school in Rampura village of Jaipur’s Bagru Assembly constituency began on Wednesday.
The development comes days after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) staged a protest over the poor condition of the school on August 21. A day before the protest, villagers had allegedly beaten and chased away the party’s spokesperson.
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka described the government’s decision to construct a new building as a major victory of the students.
“The children of Rampura had been studying in extremely poor conditions, with the school functioning almost like a buffalo shed. The government could and should have acted earlier. It is unfortunate that it took protests and confrontation for such a basic issue to receive attention,” Ranka said.
He added that the Rampura school was only one example of the poor infrastructure in government schools across Rajasthan.
“Our fight is not limited to Rampura. We will continue to raise our voice until children studying in government schools across Rajasthan are provided safe classrooms, proper infrastructure and a dignified learning environment,. Getting safe and good infrastructure and education is the fundamental right of every student and we will not stop until it is achieved in this country,” he said.
The Rajasthan government has approved ₹18 lakh for the construction of a new building at Government Primary School Rampura (Kanwarpura) in Jaipur’s Sanganer block, replacing the old structure that was declared dilapidated last year.
According to the statement of the CM Bhajanlal Sharma, the school building, which had two classrooms, a veranda and a restroom, was found to be unsafe for students following a technical survey. It was declared dilapidated in September 2025 and taken out of use.
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Reacting to this, Spokesperson of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj evam Shikshak Union, Narayan Sisodiya said that government’s priority should be to repair schools on time and focus on schools infrastructure development instead of just waiting for an ‘andolan’.
The old school building is now abandoned, with paint peeling, the colourful lettering and murals fading. (Express Photo)
On September 1, CJP team comprising Ashutosh Ranka, Gigraj Jodli, Apoorv Mishra and Garvit Khandelwal inspected the Mahatma Gandhi School in Ponkh village of Jhunjhunu district following complaints from local residents about its deteriorating condition.
According to the information given by the CJP members, Built in 1952, the school once produced IAS officers, Lieutenant Colonels and engineers and had 700–800 students. The team alleged that years of neglect had left classrooms dilapidated, roofs unsafe and the playground full of pits, with snakes and scorpions frequenting the premises. It also flagged poor toilet conditions, a missing boundary wall and a rusted water tank, threatening a protest if work does not begin.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
The old school building is now abandoned, with paint peeling, the colourful lettering and murals fading. (Express Photo)