A one-room government school catering to as many as 412 students at Kaithal in Haryana has drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission, which has described it as an issue involving violation of children's human rights. The NHRC on Wednesday issued a notice to Haryana Government's Principal Secretary (Education) in this connection.
The Shakti Nagar Government Primary School at the district headquarter town of Kaithal has only one room, already declared unsafe, with an attached veranda for 412 students enrolled in first to fifth classes, according to a media report on which the Commission took the cognisance. This is also the only building available to the school's teachers and staff.
The room is also used as a kitchen for cooking of midday meals during the rainy season. The report stated that it was also being used for storage of 200 chairs and 80 benches for the past few months. Besides, there is a single toilet for teachers, staff and students, including girls and boys.
The classes are held in an open ground and veranda and also in two separate 'Chaupals', located at a distance of 300 to 500 yards from the school. The drinking water is stored in a tank during supply hours but in the absence of its supply, water has to be fetched from hand pumps or submersible pumps located in the vicinity of the school.
The NHRC observed that the contents of the report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of human rights of children, staff and teachers of the school. The Principal Secretary (Education) has been given four weeks' time to respond to the allegations made in the report.
