Nirmal Gram Puraskar GP school sans toilet

The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Mahatma Gandhi Government High School lacks basic facilities of own building, toilets for use and water connection. The school has been identified as a model school by the education department.

However, the school does not have building of its own and is functioning in the building of Mangala Grameena Yuvaka Sangha since 2007. At present, 152 students are pursuing their education in this tiny building.


The total strength in VIII standard was 72 students. So they could not be accommodated in a small room of the yuvaka mandala building. Hence, a classroom was made up of coconut and arecanut fronds along with plastic cover in front of the building.

“We wanted to make two sections, however, owing to the lack of space, we could not make two sections for VIII standard,” said sources in the school.  As the students strength increased, the Yuvaka Mandala members with the help of donors constructed first floor at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 lakh. In spite of the request by the authorities, the school is yet to get a own building.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Sangha Member Achyutha Gatti said “We have given our building free for the school. We were running anganwadi centre in the building for the last 12 years. Now high school is being functioning for the last 4 years.”

No toilet

The school does not have a toilet. Majority of the students are girl students and are finding it difficult to attend nature’s call. They are forced to go to the neighbouring houses to attend nature’s call. The school has 9 lady staff, who are also put into hardship owing to the non availability of toilet. “We can not sit till evening without going to a toilet. How can we go to neighbours house everyday?” asked a teacher.

Now the Gram Panchayat has allowed us to use its toilets in the Gram Panchayat building. When the Sangha made an attempt to construct the toilet for the purpose of the students, some section of the people raised an objection to the construction of the toilet stating that the proposed toilet comes on the road leading to Dalit colony. As a result, the work has been halted by the Gram Panchayat. “We will raise the issue in the Grama Sabhe which is scheduled to be held on August 2,” said Gatti.

In fact, a public toilet is situated next to the school which was built in 1987 for the Dalit colony to use. However, the toilet is in bad condition and can not be used by the students. Though the Sangha members urged the Panchayat to repair the public toilet, so that students can utilise it, no concrete action has been taken so far.

The sources in the school said BEO had said that 2 classrooms have been sanctioned under NABARD and six classrooms under Rashtriya Madhyamika Shiksha Abhiyan. “However, we did not get anything in writing so far.”