Students and parents of the school, which had recently got burnt in Mango, on Monday demonstrated at the district collectorate demanding transfer of forest land for a school’s construction.The school, comprising 45 underprivileged children at Machuapada slum near Jamshedpur Workers’ College in Mango, is looking for a land. The school had got burnt on January 31, 2015.
The students and parents along with school principal Urmila Devi, threatened to continue their agitation if the administration fails to arrange a land for the construction of a new school.The children withdrew their agitation only after assurance by the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal of transfering a land soon.
Urmila Devi said that the school is a ray of hope for several children. The education department officials had assured that they would be getting no objection certificate from the forest department for a land at Kunwar Basti, around 500 metres from the existing location. But when we inquired they said forest department was yet to give clearance for that land,” said Urmila Devi.
The principal said that if the administration fails to take proper steps, the students might have to continue their studies sitting on the ground in the open as the district administration was not sure when the land will be transferred from the forest department. Umesh Kumar, president, Jamshedpur Abhibhavak Sangh, said that the students had no choice, but to approach the deputy commissioner to expedite the process.
It is the question of fate of several underprivileged students. It was important for the school management to voice their concerns. East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal said that he is aware of the situation and land will be transferred to the school managing committee and district education department within a fortnight. He said that required steps would be taken in this regard.