State Govt yields but an inch an year after students trek 70 Km for basics

RAYATE (NASHIK), MARCH 20: An year after 23 students of the Government-run ashram-school at Rayate trekked 70 km to the Tribal Developmen...

RAYATE (NASHIK), MARCH 20: An year after 23 students of the Government-run ashram-school at Rayate trekked 70 km to the Tribal Development Commissionerate at the district headquarters in Nashik to draw attention to their plight, the school has received a mixed bag from the powers-that-be.The menu has improved considerably, there are uniforms and books for all and the Government has since appointed more teachers. And no, the new headmaster does not stop by once a fortnight to steal groceries from the kitchen like his predecessor did.

If tangible indices were the only yardstick of a decent education, the ashram-school at Rayate would have upped its score since the students’ historic march in February last year. But teaching continues to take a backseat here and though the State Government has created a separate Education Wing to administer the 410 ashram schools in the state, ground-level realities tell a different story.

The students still have to go to a stream to drink water half a kilometre away as theelectric pump meant to distribute water through the taps has not been repaired since it got spoilt four years ago. Engineers from the Maharashtra State Electricity Board visited the school twice last year but the pump refuses to be resuscitated.

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Even though the rolls include 152 boys and 101 girls, the girls’ hostel does not have a lady warden. Also, the school was upgraded up to Class X three years ago, only Class VIII was added this year. Class IX will commence from the next academic year.

The school, which requires 10 teachers, has eight at present but even they are extremely irregular and the new headmaster, K C Shirsat, too shows up only once a week. Officials and departmental union secretary Vikram Gaikwad says that is because the headmaster is saddled with administrative work, which necessities frequent visits to the commissionerate at Nashik.Sakharam Bhanwar, former sarpanch of Rayate village, which has a population of 875, told The Indian Express that with no one to monitor them, the teachersconsistently dodge class. He says weekends extend from Friday to Monday, with classes being held only three days a week. The following weekend, both teachers and students disappear to their respective villages for another extended break.

The children on their part hope the commissionerate will pre-empt another crisis and not force the students to journey back to their pre-march days.