Children from financially weak families studying in the Rajiv Gandhi Abhinav Vidyalaya residential school set up in Joshimath last year continue to face uncertainty in the absence of hostel facility. In addition to this, the parents of these students have also expressed concern stating that their wards have not even been informed about the syllabus.
The opening up of Rajeev Gandhi Abhinav residential school in Joshimath area of Chamoli district during August 2015 was welcomed especially by financially poor families who were hoping to secure proper schooling of their children. The first batch consisted of 20 seats each for girls and boys. Since its beginning, this residential school has been functioning from two halls of the Government inter college here. More than six months have passed since the inauguration of this government residential school in Joshimath but its students have not yet been provided hostel facility. The head of Rajiv Gandhi Abhinav school parents association, Jagmohan Singh Panwar said that the failure of the authorities to provide hostel facility in this residential school was causing problems for the parents. In the absence of a hostel, the parents are forced by circumstances to keep their children in rented accommodation. He further alleged that children in this school are not getting to eat their dinner regularly at night. Panwar also averred that the children do not even know their academic syllabus which is detrimental to their educational progress and academic future.
When this correspondent contacted the block education officer Vivek Panwar seeking information on this issue, he said that with the budget expected to be released by the State administration in the near future, the required improvement in the facilities will be brought about from the next academic semester. Observers point out that it still remains to be seen as to when the hostel and other necessary improvements are facilitated by the State authorities in this residential school. The people who had admitted their children in this school hoping to secure their academic progress are now despondent due to the protracted delay in redressal of major issues affecting this residential school and its students.
It is pertinent to mention here that earlier in 2015, the State Government had announced the setting up of Rajiv Gandhi Abhinav residential schools in three districts of the State. This government residential school in the Joshimath area without making provision for hostel facility. The protracted absence of a hostel has also deterred poor families living in remote areas from sending their children to study at the Rajiv Gandhi Abhinav school in Joshimath. Simply opening up a school or educational institution in the mountainous regions without ensuring necessary facilities and proper faculty is not good enough to provide decent schooling to children of economically weaker families, point out the observers.