Jackson Tayeng

ITANAGAR/ PASSA Jan 22: Although it is frequently claimed by the state government that education is a priority sector in Arunachal’s developmental policy framework and an award of ‘Best Performing Small State in Education’ was conferred in 2017 at India Today State of the States Conclave, the picture at just 150 km away from state capital will tell a different story.
The Government Primary Residential School, Passa Camp in Pakke Kessang district established in 2007 don’t have proper classrooms, staff quarters, kitchen, hostels for boys and girls, toilets, potable water facilities and even electricity till today. With almost 100 students, the school is crying for government attention.
“We have sought help from villagers and made makeshift classrooms with bamboo and wood, so that there aren’t any interruptions in academic activities,” said the Headmaster Payo Teli.
This correspondent, after visiting the school was informed that since 2016 it is being affected by flash floods. “We have to run away with our belongings and return only after flash floods dry up,” lamented a class V student while narrating the horrifying scenes of the floods, adding that students have to clean the classrooms, hostels and kitchens themselves for commencement of normal school activities. 
Besides having no proper hostel building for girls and boys, teachers have been compelled to arrange accommodation at the quarters of the Health Department and an old dilapidated and congested SPT building situated on the campus is being used as hostel. The condition of classrooms is very disheartening with makeshift structures showing signs of collapse supplemented by wrecked blackboards, rotting wooden poles, bamboo partitions, wet floors and absence of bell, all adding to the woes. 
When asked about the reasons for this shabby condition, the Headmaster lamented that since there are no embankment or boundary wall, the annual damages are severe and there are times when they have to run with students in the middle of the night to save them from the fury of floods. 
After gathering these shocking details, when inquired about Mid-Day Meal and other facilities, a class IV student said they get  meals only twice a day in the morning and evening and it would have been better if there is a provision for lunch also as they feel hungry during day time.
 When asked about the cause behind this rather unusual regimen, Headmaster blamed it on financial constraint arising out of sheer administrative neglect. “We get Mid-Day Meal (MDM) and a stipend to run kitchens, but due to delay in release of stipend amount, we use the MDM provision in kitchen instead and even this is not sufficient for almost 100 students as it actually comprises provisions under a once-a-day allotment structure,” he said.

What is more disheartening and disgraceful is that sometimes we have to ask help from the villagers and grocery stores in nearby Seppa in East Kameng so that the children at least don’t stay hungry and each and every problem can be solved if the authority releases the stipend amount and MDM provisions on a monthly basis, Headmaster informed, adding with hope that under such method, it won’t be a problem to provide square meals three times a day.

 “We have also submitted a memorandum to the local MLA and Deputy Commissioner Pakke Kesang district, appealing for a new school campus with hostel facilities both for boys & girls, bachelor’s barrack for staff, proper classrooms, staff room and kitchen shed with dining hall and we are hoping our pleas will be accepted and there will be sanction of fund soon,” he stated.
When central government is claiming 100% electrification in every village of the county, this school doesn’t have electricity and uses generator and all minimum basic amenities are still awaited. 
When contacted, DDSE Pakke Kesang stated, “I have just joined as DDSE and yet to get the full details of the school. However, we have visited the school recently and will look into the matter as soon as possible.” 
In the current era of a Digital India, leaving aside all other issues, the students of this school, though being subjected to extreme hardships are still happy that they getting free books, copies, toothpaste, soap etc from the school. However, just like any other children they want some sports equipment in their school too.
 “I love football, I love volleyball, badminton, carom….” was the collective high pitch voices from the children.
These heart-wrenching conditions show that along with all other developmental works, special focus is really wanted in far-flung pockets of the state like these where majority of students usually come from the economically marginalised sections of society. May be ‘Arunachal is Rising’, but the ‘Rise’ of Government Primary Residential School, Passa Camp is still awaited. 

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List