At Kiratpur Primary School in Darbhanga’s Alinagar block, the makeshift support has raised concerns over the safety of 191 children. In a Bihar government school where a pillar has collapsed, benches and desks have taken its place — literally holding up the roof.
The government primary school, which has classes from I to V, has only two rooms. But one room is currently occupied by office furniture and an almirah, leaving little space for regular classes. With the building in poor condition, lessons are now being conducted in open areas and a kitchen shed on the premises. The situation became particularly precarious after one of the pillars collapsed around three to four months ago. Villagers have also staged protests, seeking immediate action. Written communications were also sent, while officials inspected the premises, but no permanent repair or replacement building had been provided so far. One room is occupied by an almirah, while benches and desks are kept in another room and the verandah.
“The existing two-room building was constructed as the first primary school in this village in 1983 under Operation Blackboard.
Instead of a replacement pillar, benches, desks and bricks were placed underneath the roof to support it, according to school authorities. Choudhary said the education department and other officials had been informed several times about the condition of the building. Headmaster Rajendra Kumar said the school had informed officials from the block to the district level around five to six times. Darbhanga district education officer (DEO) Vidyanand Thakur said the old structure had been declared unsafe and no teaching activity was being conducted there. He said steps had already been taken for construction of a new building. At present, teaching is being conducted in the kitchen shed on the school premises,” Thakur said. The school has very limited usable space, according to the DEO.
