A government primary school in Bihar ’s Darbhanga district has been left with a makeshift support system after a pillar of its ageing building collapsed, with benches, desks, and bricks being used to support a portion of the roof.
students and teachers continue to pass through the area Although classes are not currently held beneath the portion supported by the makeshift arrangement. The roof leaks during rain, while beams and pillars are in a dilapidated condition. Plaster has fallen off in several places, and reinforcement bars have become exposed. The school has classes from I to V, but only two rooms. Villagers have also staged protests seeking a solution.
The precarious structure at Kiratpur Primary School in Alinagar block has raised concerns about the safety of the 191 children enrolled there. “The existing two-room building was constructed as the first primary school in this village in 1983 under Operation Blackboard. Due to the shortage of space and a dilapidated building, classes are conducted in the open areas.
The school building, constructed in 1983 under the Centre’s “Operation Blackboard” programme, has developed several structural problems. After one of the pillars collapsed some three to four months ago, benches, desks and bricks were placed underneath the roof instead of constructing a replacement pillar, according to school authorities. Currently, one of the rooms is used to keep office furniture and an almirah, according to an official. Assistant teacher Pawan Kumar Choudhary said the education department and other officials had been informed several times about the condition of the building. At present, teaching is being conducted in the kitchen shed on the school premises,” Thakur said.
