Surguja Eklavya School Girls Walk 16 Km, Principal Removed

Students of Shivpur Eklavya Residential School in Surguja walked to the collector’s office to complain about months-long electricity failure, teaching issues and poor hostel conditions. The principal has now been removed and the warden issued a notice.

The principal of Shivpur Eklavya Residential School in Surguja district has been removed after girl students walked several kilometres to meet the collector and raise complaints about basic facilities at the institution.The students had alleged that the school and hostel had been without electricity for nearly three months, along with problems related to teaching and cleanliness in the mess.Following an inquiry ordered by the district administration, Principal Om Narayan Srivastava was removed from the post and attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner. The hostel warden has also been issued a show-cause notice for alleged negligence.

Students walked to collector’s office

According to officials, around 45 girl students from the residential school decided to approach the collector after repeated complaints allegedly failed to resolve their problems.The students started walking towards Ambikapur, around 30 km away from the school. Teachers accompanied them as a safety measure.When Tribal Assistant Commissioner Lalit Shukla reached Bailkota to speak with the students, they reportedly refused to discuss their issues with him and insisted on meeting the collector directly.After the students had walked around 16 km, arrangements were made to take them to Ambikapur by bus.

Students raised three major complaints

After meeting Collector Ajit Vasant, the students highlighted three key issues:

• Electricity supply in the school and hostel had remained disrupted for around three months

  Also Read... Raipur Encroachment Drive: Over 50 Shopkeepers Face Action, Bulldozers Remove Illegal Structures

• Problems with teaching, particularly in subjects including mathematics and chemistry

• Poor cleanliness arrangements in the mess

The students also alleged that their earlier complaints to the school principal did not result in corrective action.

Three-member committee submitted inquiry report

The collector had formed a three-member inquiry committee headed by Joint Collector Sharda Agrawal to examine the allegations.The committee spoke with students and staff members and submitted its report to the district administration.Based on the findings, the administration removed the principal from his post. Teacher Pratiksha Tripathi (PGT English) has been given additional responsibility as school principal

.Another teacher, Arvind Ashok Tigga , has been sent back to his original posting at Eklavya School Mainpat.The hostel warden Ayushi Soni has received a show-cause notice over alleged negligence in government duties.The salaries of employees working at Eklavya School Shivpur will now be released only after approval from the collector and district-level committee.

CM orders action against negligence

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed displeasure over the incident and spoke to the collector.The Chief Minister said that students having to walk to raise their concerns was not acceptable and directed officials to identify responsibility and take action against those found negligent.Tribal Welfare Minister Ramvichar Netam has also sought an inquiry report from officials and said that students’ problems would be addressed.The administration has assured that necessary steps will be taken to improve facilities at the school.