Students in several parts of Chhattisgarh have taken to the streets over problems ranging from teacher shortages and poor-quality hostel food to allegations of corporal punishment and the absence of school principals. In several cases, students were joined by their parents, while some protests involved road blockades and sit-ins on major routes.

Over the past month, students have staged protests in different districts, demanding action from education officials and the removal of teachers, principals and hostel wardens. In some cases, authorities initiated inquiries or took action after complaints were raised. Here are seven recent cases that highlight the concerns being raised by students and their families.

In Durg district, students of the Swami Atmanand School in Pendrawan village blocked the Khairagarh-Dhamdha main road on August 21, protesting against a shortage of teachers. Students from Classes 9 to 12 said only five teachers were available, with subject-wise teaching affected because of the shortage. The students said the lack of adequate teachers was making it difficult to complete the syllabus and affecting their studies.

A similar protest took place in Korba, where students of the Eklavya Residential School in Chhuri have protested twice over their grievances. On August 13, students sat on the Korba-Katghora main road near Chhuri panchayat, causing traffic disruption. They demanded the removal of principal Dr Arshad Ahmed Ali and the hostel superintendent. Students alleged that their complaints were not handled properly and also raised concerns over the quality of food and basic facilities in the hostel.

In Dhamtari district, students and parents protested against teacher shortages at the government higher secondary school in Barna village on August 17. Students locked the school gate and staged a protest for around five hours despite the rain. The school reportedly has 175 students from Classes 9 to 12 but only five teachers. Protesters raised slogans against education officials and demanded action to address the shortage.

Another protest was reported from Balpur village in Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district on August 19. Local residents protested over poor road conditions and locked the gate of the Swami Atmanand School. Students who arrived at the school were unable to enter and subsequently joined the protest outside the gate. Following a complaint by the Block Education Officer, police registered an FIR against the village deputy sarpanch under Sections 126(2), 221 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In Durg's Patora village, students and parents had earlier protested against the headmistress of a government middle school over an allegation of corporal punishment. The complaint alleged that a student was beaten with a thorny stick, resulting in an injury to his hand. Parents and students approached the District Education Officer's office, demanding the suspension of headmistress Mamta Shandilya. Officials said the matter would be investigated, although no action had been reported at the time of the source report.

In Korba district, schoolgirls staged a road blockade on the Katghora-Ambikapur National Highway on August 6, demanding the removal of the warden of a Kasturba Gandhi Girls Hostel in the Bango police station area. The students alleged that the superintendent, Sharda Netam, forced them to massage her hands and feet, conducted prayers late at night and provided poor-quality or undercooked food. Following an inquiry, the education department removed the warden from her post.

Students at the Eklavya Model Residential School in Dharamjaigarh, Raigarh district, also boycotted classes on August 6 over alleged administrative and hostel-related problems. Students claimed that the principal did not regularly attend the school and questioned the quality of food served in the hostel. They staged a protest on the school premises, demanding improvements in the institution's functioning.

The protests come amid a broader discussion in Uttar Pradesh about how authorities should respond when schoolchildren take to the streets. The Uttar Pradesh government is reportedly preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that students' grievances are heard and resolved while protecting children's rights during protests. The proposed approach also emphasises avoiding the use of force against protesting students.

The recent incidents in Chhattisgarh underline recurring concerns around teacher availability, school administration, hostel facilities, food quality and student safety. While investigations and administrative action have followed some complaints, the protests show that students and parents are increasingly using public demonstrations to draw attention to problems inside schools and residential institutions.