Two years after quake, schools await repairs

Of the 42 rooms in the building, authorities have banned use of 21 rooms in the rear wing as they are unsafe. The result? Nearly 4,500 students crammed into 21 rooms.

‘‘When President Kalam came to the city last time, we submitted a memorandum describing the poor condition of this school. We are still waiting for a response,’’ said headmaster of a school in this building Mushtaq Ahmed Shaikh.

The school board’s attention was drawn to the unrepaired rear wing but to no avail. Tired, a former headmaster wrote to the government highlighting the condition but instead of any remedial action, he was served a showcause notice by school board officials, said the staff.

Rajpur Hindi School No. 2 has nearly 2,000 students but has no gate or even drinking water and sanitation facilities. ‘‘In fact, the existing sanitation block was demolished by a contractor who did not return to build a new one. If children want to use the toilet they have to go home,’’ said school headmaster R.B. Kori.

At Rajpur Urdu School No. 4 and 5, the contractor entrusted with repair works left the work incomplete. Headmistress R.H. Shaikh said teachers have contributed Rs 100 each to a welfare fund allegedly raised at the behest of board chairman Dinesh Raval. Raval said the civic body was supposed to repair the building and added the money collected was meant for the welfare of teachers.

Some teachers said former chairman Ganpat Parmar, now a board member, had also collected money from them (Rs 300 per head) but ‘‘we don’t know how and where it was used’’. Parmar said Rs 23 lakh was collected as earthquake repair fund but only the current chairman could order its use.