Students Stand Firm on School Building Demand After Encroachment Removal

Protesting Students Block Highway Over Unmet School Building Promise

Hundreds of students from the Government Higher Secondary School in Rasena village, Deori tehsil, Sagar district, staged a protest on Monday. They blocked the Maharajpur-Sahajpur-Kesli Highway for nearly two hours, disrupting traffic. Their demands centered on the delayed construction of the school building, encroachment on the playground, and a lack of basic amenities like drinking water.

Following the students' demonstration, the administration arrived at the scene and removed encroachments from the playground and the government handpump. However, the primary issue of the school building's construction remains unresolved, leaving students and the community dissatisfied.

Unfulfilled Promises and Inadequate Facilities Plague School

The protesting students stated that approval for the new school building was granted approximately a year ago. Despite this, construction work has yet to commence. Currently, the school is operating out of a building belonging to the Agriculture Department in Rasena village.

This temporary facility reportedly lacks adequate amenities for the students. Furthermore, the allocated playground for the school had allegedly been encroached upon by local residents, specifically identified as Deepesh Bairagi and his family. Students also claimed that a government handpump, their source of water, was encroached upon, forcing them to travel a kilometer for water.

Administration Acts on Encroachment, Principal Cites Threats

Approximately two hours after receiving information about the highway jam, Naib Tehsildar Chandrabhan Diwan and Maharajpur Police Station in-charge Ajay Bhadauria, accompanied by police personnel, reached Rasena village. The administrative team inspected the site and proceeded to remove encroachments from the playground and the government handpump land.

Naib Tehsildar Diwan confirmed that the encroachments had been cleared. However, he clarified that the school building construction falls under the purview of the Education Department, and they would be the appropriate authority for information on that matter. Meanwhile, the Principal of Rasena Government Higher Secondary School, Prabhat Lodhi, made a serious accusation, alleging that he has received death threats from the Bairagi family, who were involved in the encroachment.

Former Minister Criticizes Official Inaction

The situation has also taken on a political dimension. Former Minister Harsh Yadav attributed the incident to official negligence. He stated that the approval for the new Rasena school building was secured during his tenure, but due to the sluggishness of officials, construction has not yet begun.

Yadav emphasized the government's responsibility to provide students with essential facilities such as safe buildings, drinking water, and playgrounds. He called for strict action against officials found to be negligent in this matter. The students expressed their frustration, stating that their long-standing concerns had been ignored, compelling them to take to the streets.

Future Uncertain as Building Remains a Key Issue

While the immediate protest has subsided with the removal of encroachments, the demand for the school building's construction and other facilities remains a significant concern. Parents and villagers are now looking to the Education Department to expedite the commencement of the new building's construction and provide a permanent solution for the school's basic amenities.