Alwar, August 15: Students at the Government Higher Secondary School in Jodhavas, located in the Thanagazi area of Alwar, staged a protest and locked the main gate of the school due to deteriorating building conditions. The protest, which took place on August 13-14, highlighted several critical issues regarding the school’s infrastructure.
The condition of the school is alarming, with classroom ceilings falling apart and walls developing cracks. Many rooms in the school premises are no longer safe for students to use. Frustrated by the lack of action from the education department and local administration, students and villagers voiced their concerns vigorously.
During the demonstration, students directly questioned the authorities, asking, “If your children were in our place, would you provide them with such facilities?”
Local residents reported that they had repeatedly raised complaints about the school’s condition with the relevant authorities, but no solutions have been implemented. In a bid to draw attention to their plight, students felt compelled to take to the streets. The protesters warned that their demonstrations would continue until the school is either repaired or new classrooms are constructed.
On August 14, an agreement was reached between the administration and the students, leading to the conclusion of the protest. Key officials, including the Chief District Education Officer and other administrative and police personnel, engaged in discussions with the students on-site.
Ashutosh Ranka, co-convener of the CJP, also participated in the protest, where he had a confrontation with police. A video of the incident went viral, showing him warning a police inspector against playing politics, stating, “We have come to remove the Education Minister of the country.”
Ranka further cautioned Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar that if the conditions of the schools do not improve within three months, his position could be at risk. Following the protest, students expressed their gratitude to the CJP for inspiring them to fight for their rights, stating that they drew motivation from a recent protest in Delhi.
In a related incident, around 300-350 female students protested in Ujjain against the relocation of Sarafa School to Daudkheda, which is approximately 12-15 kilometers away. The students expressed concerns over the potential impact on their safety and education.
According to Advocate Jitendra Sengar from the Save Schools Committee, this relocation could affect approximately 2,500-2,600 children across six schools. While school management acknowledges the negative impact of the decision, they have refrained from openly opposing it.
District Education Officer Mahendra Khatri stated that the decision was made by the government, and the final call will be taken by the district-level monitoring committee regarding the relocation of Sarafa School.