In this school,students enter classes with slippers and shoes in hands

Spells of rains have turned the study area in government elementary school in Alipur Araiyan,located on the periphery of Patiala,into a virtual island.

Spells of rains have turned the study area in government elementary school in Alipur Araiyan,located on the periphery of Patiala,into a virtual island. The only difference is that the students many of them so small that accumulated water in the premises is nearly knee deep for them do not require a boat to reach their classrooms. Instead,they carry slippers and shoes in their hands to wade through the water to reach the classrooms and leave the premises after the school hours.

A teacher sarcastically remarked that pressing boats into service should not come as a surprise if it rains heavily and incessantly.

The attendance has taken a hit and so has studies. According the teachers,what has worsened things is that the area between primary (Classes I to V) and middle sections (Classes VI to VIII) is so treacherous due to potholes that they cannot risk students wade through the water to reach the middle section. As a result,students of the middle section are being made to sit in the elementary section verandah for their classes.

There is a danger of kids falling or slipping in the dirty water, said a teacher. The absence of a drainage system in the past had forced the authorities to hold classes at a religious structure nearby,the teacher added. Every time it rains,same scenario prevails. At least,some well should be dug up nearby to divert the accumulated water, the teacher said.

The sewerage work awaiting finalisation on the street along the school has added to the woes,with water from the street also making its way into the school. Studies have taken a hit. Attendance has also fallen. Many students prefer to go back home from the school gate itself after looking at the water, said another teacher.

The concerned councillor of Alipur Araiyan gram panchayat,Sukhdev Singh said that successive representatives of the area had failed to ensure proper drainage. He added that it was due to his requests to the Akali leaders,including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,that a sewerage system has been laid in the area.

The final touches to the sewerage work are in progress. As far as water from the rain is concerned,I had taken up the issue with then Patiala Deputy Commissioner more than six months ago,requesting him to get the ground level of the school raised. I will again take up the matter with the concerned authorities, Singh added.

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District Education Officer (Elementary) Balbir Kaur said she will visit the school on Thursday. I will ensure that firstly,a passage is created for the students to reach the classrooms,before addressing the other issues, she added.

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