Snow bound areas: Teachers, students rue lack of basic amenities in schools

Srinagar, Nov 15: The students and the teachers in hard zones of the Valley have been left to fend for themselves as the schools in these areas lack facilities in the ongoing cold weather conditions.
The snow bound areas (hard zones) recently witnessed heavy snowfall and the temperature has drastically gone down at these places as well. However, the students and the teachers are shivering in the biting cold due to non-availability of any heating and lighting arrangement in schools.
These schools are situated in Machil, Ring Payeen, Ring Bala, Dapal, Doban which have witnessed heavy snowfall recently.
“The students are at risk here as these areas receive heavy snowfall and the children have to come down from hills and travel more than five to six kilometres to reach their schools which do not have any heating facilities available,” a teacher said, wishing anonymity.
According to teachers, the temperature in these areas have gone down minus four Degree Celsius.
“There is no heating facility available in schools and even it has become almost impossible for teachers to stay here due to the non-availability of water,” the teacher said, adding that the water gets frozen here due to low temperature in these areas.
Notably, the district administration Kupwara on Saturday had to suspend the classwork in schools up to class 10th due to the heavy snowfall witnessed in the upper reaches of the district.
The decision to suspend the class work in schools speaks volumes about the lack of basic facilities in schools.
“The schools are without basic facilities. It becomes difficult to take the classes inside the classrooms. The students shiver the whole day,” the teacher said.
Meanwhile, the teachers posted in Gurez also complained of lack of basic facilities in schools.
The teachers said the area witnessed heavy snowfall from last week which has added to the miseries of these teachers.
“Around 4ft of snow has accumulated here and we are extremely suffering here. There is no facility of heating or lighting in these schools,” said a teacher posted in Gurez.
Not only the upper reaches, but the schools in plan areas also sans the basic heating and lighting arrangement which has added to the miseries of the school going children.
“On one hand the government claims to continue the class work till December ending but on ground the schools are not equipped with basic facilities so that the classes can continue amid the prevailing cold weather conditions,” the teacher said.
An official said the matter will be taken up with the concerned Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kupwara and Bandipora to ensure that the basic heating and lighting facilities are provided to students in these snow bound areas.