Despite significant milestones achieved by the State Government in the field of education notwithstanding the ongoing education complex and the nationally acclaimed POTA cabins in insurgency-riddled Bastar region, there are still schools in south Bastar which are either without a roof or even devoid of basic facilities.
Consider Dantewada - one of the worst affected districts in Bastar. There are schools in the district which are housed in kuchacha structures and worse — some schools run classes under a tree.
Moreover, there are about a dozen schools without power and drinking water facility. The school authorities which are devoid of any infrastructure are worried as the academic session starts in a monsoon month such a June and runs through July under a heavy spell of rainfall in the region.
And there are schools in Dantewada which run in mud houses.
"There are many schools in the district which are without buildings besides those which are in a dilapidated condition. Of course, infrastructure development would be a priority in the new academic session and alternative arrangements would be made for children in various schools," said Assistant Commissioner Anand Singh.
The officials had been directed to get the dilapidated buildings repaired by the end of this month, he said. The Block Education officers had been directed to send information on lack of infrastructure, drinking water, power and toilets in their respective schools, Singh said.