4 hrs ago
Power Cuts Disrupt Government School Classes Across Odisha
A school in Odisha lost its electricity because its prepaid power account ran out of money.
Nearly 200 children then had to study without fans, lights, or water.
The power was cut on Friday, and the problem affected classes on Monday.
Other government schools in Odisha and some other states have faced similar problems.
Schools usually use government grants to pay for electricity.
A teacher said the money provided was not enough for the schools’ power use.
Parents and education experts said the outages made learning and handwashing difficult.
They also said preparing and serving school meals became harder.
The power company said it would comment on the situation, but had not done so when the report was published.
TPCODL disconnected electricity at Sitadevi Joglekar Upper Primary School in Cuttack on Friday after an advance-payment balance turned negative.
Nearly 200 children reportedly endured classrooms without fans, water, or adequate lighting on Monday.
Schools in several Odisha districts and other states have faced disruptions after failing to pay electricity dues on time.
Teachers and education advocates said outages hinder lessons, handwashing, and preparation and serving of mid-day meals.
Officials said schools receive grants annually, while a teacher said the released funds were insufficient for electricity consumption.
- Who
- Nearly 200 students at Sitadevi Joglekar Upper Primary School, along with other government-school students; TPCODL was the electricity distributor involved.
- What
- Electricity supplies were disconnected at schools after advance-payment balances or electricity dues were not paid on time, disrupting classes and related activities.
- Where
- Sitadevi Joglekar Upper Primary School in Cuttack, Odisha; similar disruptions were reported in other Odisha districts and states.
- When
- The supply at Sitadevi Joglekar Upper Primary School was disconnected on Friday, disrupting conditions on Monday.
- Why
- Schools reportedly lacked sufficient funds to maintain positive balances or pay electricity dues under smart-meter arrangements.
Schools, parents, and education advocates
Discom and government position
Responsibility for the outages
Schools, parents, and education advocates
Parents, teachers, and education advocates said governments and power companies were responsible for denying children conditions needed for education, and described disconnections as a violation of the Right to Education Act.
Discom and government position
The school education department said smart meters had been installed and that schools use annual grants to make advance payments. TPCODL had not provided its response when the report was published.
Adequacy of school funding
Schools, parents, and education advocates
A teacher said the state funds released to schools were insufficient compared with their electricity consumption, causing prepaid balances to become negative.
Discom and government position
The department said schools receive grants in February or March for advance payments, indicating that electricity costs are handled through the existing grant system.
Notice before disconnection
Schools, parents, and education advocates
Parents said the discom did not issue a notice before disconnecting the school’s electricity.
Discom and government position
No response from TPCODL on the alleged lack of notice was included; the company said it would comment on the matter the following day.
Key facts
- Affected school
- Sitadevi Joglekar Upper Primary School, Cuttack
- Students affected
- Nearly 200 children
- Electricity distributor
- Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL)
- Payment system
- Smart meters require advance payments and can trigger temporary disconnection when balances become negative.
- Reported outage timing
- Supply was disconnected on Friday; students experienced the disruption on Monday.
- Broader scale
- Similar electricity-related disruptions were reported at government schools in several Odisha districts and other states.
- National electricity access
- About 5% of schools in the country reportedly do not have electricity at all.
Quotes
A parent of a student at Sitadevi Joglekar Upper Primary School
Parent of a student affected by the school’s power disconnection
“Our children sat in near-dark rooms and could not even wash their hands properly. I never thought electricity would be disconnected at government schools.”
telegraphindia.com
Ashok Agrawal
Educationist, former Delhi University executive council member and president of the All India Parents Association
“Power is disconnected due to non-payment of advance or dues. This is a violation of the RTE Act, which makes education a non-negotiable right. The power companies and the governments are responsible for the denial of these rights.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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