Jaipur students from school for the deaf protest over poor infrastructure, principal relieved from duty

Hearing and speech impaired students in Rajasthan’s Jaipur staged a protest on Wednesday, August 5, over poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities. The Education Department intervened and removed the principal of the Government Anandilal Poddar Senior Secondary School for the Deaf.

The students came out of the school building and staged a dharna, alleging through sign language that they had been facing problems due to unhygienic toilets, shortage of drinking water and a dilapidated school building. They claimed repeated complaints to the school administration had gone unaddressed.

Following the protest, Education Department officials inspected the school and found deficiencies in sanitation, building maintenance and administrative arrangements.

The department relieved principal Bharat Joshi of his responsibilities with immediate effect and handed additional charge of the school to the vice-principal, according to an official order.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully visited the school, met the students and staff, and accused the BJP government of neglecting children with disabilities. He inspected classrooms and interacted with the school staff.

Jully said the issue would be raised during the upcoming Assembly session.

He said the students’ silent protest reflected their anguish and alleged they were being denied their right to proper education, trained teachers and basic facilities.

Children who should have been attending classes were instead forced to protest for their fundamental rights, which reflected the government’s “insensitivity” towards specially-abled students, he said.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the school later and said he would write to the Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma seeking redressal of the students’ grievances.