The State government’s decision to close down the schools with fewer admissions has, in a way, prompted land-grabbers to encroach the school property at Surakodu village in Arehalli hobli of Belur taluk.
The building, which housed a government primary school till 2013-14 academic year, is now a godown of a private individual. In 2012-13, eleven children were studying in the school. In the subsequent year, the strength came down to four, prompting the Department of Public Instruction to close down the school and shift the students to another government school at Fathima Nagar, about six km. from the village. “My two children, Shashank and Sindhu, were studying in the school. As it has now been closed, I am sending them to Fathima Nagar by a private van spending Rs. 1,000 a month,” he said. The case of Satish, whose two children also go to Fathima Nagar school, is no different.
“Yes, I agree that the students’ strength in the school was low. Now, see the negative impact of the development. Our children are going to distant places and here, the school building is being occupied by private individuals,” said Manju Shetty.
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On Saturday, residents of the village staged a dharna in front of the school building demanding that the school be reopened. Rajashekhar, a resident of the village, alleged that S.P. Harish, a local person, had encroached upon four guntas of land belonging to the school and he was using it for personal purposes. “He has demolished the flag-post and toilet in the school building, besides putting up a fence around. He has been claiming it to be his own land,” he said.
The residents have submitted memorandums to tahsildar, Assistant Commissioner and officials of the Education Department in this regard. “Inspector of the Revenue Department conducted a survey and noted that four guntas of land had been encroached upon. However, the authorities concerned have not taken steps to recover the encroached property,” said Mr. Satish.