Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Surguja Schoolgirls March 20 Km Over Power, Teaching And Food
More than 100 girls from a residential school walked a long distance to report problems.
They said their school had frequent power cuts and that some lessons were not being taught properly.
They also complained about food quality and cleanliness.
Officials arranged a bus so the girls could reach the district headquarters.
The students met Surguja Collector Ajeet Vasant.
He ordered officials to investigate and fix the problems.
A team will visit the school and report back within two days.
One student fainted afterward but was said to be in normal condition.
More than 100 girls from Eklavya Model Residential School in Shivpur marched nearly 20 km toward Ambikapur on Monday.
The students sought the collector’s intervention over a month-long power disruption, teaching concerns, food quality and cleanliness.
Officials arranged a bus roughly 10 km from Ambikapur, allowing the students to meet Collector Ajeet Vasant.
Vasant directed the power company and officials to address electricity, teaching, cleanliness and other basic-facility problems.
A three-member inquiry team must visit the school and submit a report within two days; one student later fainted but was reported stable.
- Who
- More than 100 girls in classes 10 to 12 from Eklavya Model Residential School, along with Surguja Collector Ajeet Vasant and district officials.
- What
- The students marched nearly 20 km to complain about electricity, teaching, food quality, cleanliness and other basic facilities.
- When
- Monday; the inquiry team was instructed to submit its report within two days.
- Where
- From Eklavya Model Residential School in Shivpur village, under Batouli block, to the Surguja district headquarters in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.
- Why
- The students said their repeated complaints about school facilities and teaching had not been addressed.
Students And Opposition Leaders
District Administration
School conditions
Students And Opposition Leaders
The students complained about prolonged power cuts, poor teaching by Physics and Chemistry teachers, low-quality food and inadequate cleanliness.
District Administration
Collector Ajeet Vasant said directions had been issued to resolve the electricity problem and address teaching, cleanliness and other basic issues.
Communication And Accountability
Students And Opposition Leaders
The students said they had repeatedly raised their concerns, while Congress leaders alleged negligence in the management of tribal schools and hostels.
District Administration
Vasant said the local administration had not received information about the grievances and that the issues could have been resolved earlier if they had been reported through an official channel.
Broader Political Assessment
Students And Opposition Leaders
Congress leaders said the incident reflected wider problems in tribal hostels and residential schools and criticized the BJP government’s claims about tribal development.
District Administration
The administration responded with a formal inquiry, inspections of hostels and instructions to ensure students receive necessary facilities.
- School
- Eklavya Model Residential School, Shivpur village
- Students involved
- More than 100 girls from classes 10 to 12
- Distance marched
- Nearly 20 km toward Ambikapur
- Electricity complaint
- Power had reportedly been disrupted for about one month
- Collector’s response
- Directions were issued to address power, teaching, cleanliness and other basic issues
- Inquiry deadline
- A three-member team was ordered to submit its report within two days
- Student’s condition
- One student fainted after the meeting and was reported to be in normal condition