1 week ago
Rajasthan Children Study in Cowshed as Unsafe Schools Await Repairs
Some children in Rajasthan are studying in a cowshed because their school building is unsafe.
Their teachers and classmates clean the space and turn it into a classroom.
They use a mat, table, chairs and blackboard under a tree.
The temporary school has no drinking water or working toilets.
A food van brings meals for the children.
The problem began after a school roof collapsed and seven children died in Pipalodi last year.
The High Court then ordered that classes should not be held in unsafe buildings.
The government has proposed a large plan to repair and rebuild schools.
Opposition leaders say restrictions on visitors and photographs are being used to hide the problem.
Children in Pipalodi, Jhalawar, attend classes in a villager’s cowshed after their school building was deemed unsafe.
The makeshift school lacks drinking water and toilets, creating particular difficulties for girls and their teacher.
A Rajasthan education survey found 5,667 dilapidated school buildings, including 1,579 formally declared unsafe.
The state has proposed spending Rs 12,335 crore over five years to repair or rebuild schools, classrooms and toilets.
Opposition leaders accuse the government of hiding poor school conditions after it restricted outsiders from taking photographs and videos.
- Who
- Children, teachers and villagers connected to a government school in Pipalodi, Jhalawar; Rajasthan education officials and opposition leaders are also involved.
- What
- A school is operating from a villager’s cowshed because its dedicated building is unsafe, amid wider concerns about dilapidated schools across Rajasthan.
- Where
- Pipalodi in Jhalawar, Rajasthan; the temporary classes are held in a villager’s cowshed.
- When
- The makeshift arrangement began last year; a school-roof collapse was also reported on August 12 at Jodhwas in Alwar district.
- Why
- The school building became unsafe after concerns over collapsing structures and a High Court order against holding classes in dilapidated buildings.
Government and official response
Opposition and critics
Repairing unsafe schools
Government and official response
The state has submitted a five-year plan proposing Rs 12,335 crore for new buildings, repairs, classroom replacement and toilet construction.
Opposition and critics
Congress leaders say schools remain in disrepair and that the government should act on the High Court’s directive to protect children and improve education facilities.
Restrictions on school access
Government and official response
The education department issued an order restricting outsiders from entering schools and taking photographs or videos; Education Minister Madan Dilawar said departments have their own rules but did not provide a detailed explanation.
Opposition and critics
Congress leaders and Cockroach Janata Party member Ashutosh Ranka called the restrictions an attempt to hide unsafe conditions and prevent the public from seeing them.
Temporary cowshed arrangement
Government and official response
The teacher arranged classes in the cowshed after the school building was deemed unsafe, and the owner initially allowed the use without charging rent.
Opposition and critics
The owner, Lalchand, said the arrangement had lasted a year and that he might ask the school to leave because the space is needed for cows and fodder.
Key facts
- Unsafe school buildings
- 5,667 school buildings in Rajasthan were identified as dilapidated; 1,579 were formally declared unsafe.
- Dilapidated classrooms
- The education department reported 86,934 classrooms in dilapidated condition.
- Toilet condition
- 17,109 toilets were described as completely dilapidated and 29,093 as needing repair.
- Proposed five-year spending
- The state submitted a plan to spend Rs 12,335 crore on repairs and construction.
- New school buildings
- The plan proposes 3,587 new buildings at a cost of Rs 2,487 crore.
- Classroom replacement
- The plan proposes replacing 83,783 classrooms at a cost of Rs 8,378 crore.
- Temporary school facilities
- The cowshed school has no drinking water, and nearby toilets are locked.
Quotes
Sachin Pilot
Congress leader criticizing the government’s handling of school safety
“All we want is for the government to heed the High Court's directive, to repair schools, to take children's safety and the education system seriously.”
NDTV
“I may have to ask them to vacate.”
NDTV
Sources
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