The recent death of a Class-XII student of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh has sent shockwaves across the entire academic fraternity.
The deceased Amit Kumar Bind was found hanging in the toilet of his hostel, with a bottle stuffed in his mouth, raising suspicions of murder.
According to the school authorities, Amit was under immense pressure owing to the Board Examinations. Police have sent the body for postmortem.
It is alleged that JNV, a chain of schools under the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry lack adequate checks and balances within the system. The absence of sanctioned posts for Wardens coupled with overworked teachers has only compounded matters.
The flagrant human rights violation, steep rise in suicide cases and indifferent attitude of the concerned authorities has raised serious questions about the efficiency of officials holding various posts within the organisation.
In the opinion of Navodaya Vidyalaya Employees’ Welfare Association national president Yogendra Sharma and general secretary Ranjeeta Senapati, the Wardens can be highly instrumental in keeping a vigil over students and ensure their well being. Mishap and untoward incidents can certainly be prevented.
Rather than vitiating the atmosphere, a conducive learning system ought to be encouraged in school by the authorities. Therefore, the Samiti should take care of the suggestion of the teachers’ body, they added.