Advocate writes to SC over kids' complaints

Advocate Ashok Agarwal has written to Delhi High Court’s chief justice highlighting issues raised through postcards by children of government and MCD-run schools in Fatehpur Beri area.

As many as 37 children who are studying in Priyadarshini Sarvodyaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Fatehpur Beri (11 postcards), Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Fatehpur Beri, (two postcards) and MCD Primary School, Chandanhaula (24 postcards) have sent postcards to Agarwal.

Children have expressed their concerns and taken up issues related with the infrastructure and sanitation in their schools.

“The students going to these schools belong to weaker section of society and that appears to be the main reason of discrimination with these innocent students,” said Agarwal in his letter.

“It is interesting to note that those manning these schools do not send their wards to there to study and therefore, they are not interested in the education of the children of the masses,” the letter said.

Children mentioned that they find it difficult to reach school during monsoon as the road which leads to the institution becomes muddy with massive waterlogging.

“There is a pile of garbage thrown in front of my school which creates commuting problems for us. This garbage pile emits a foul smell and mosquitoes are seen everywhere,” said a student in a postcard.

Most of them complained about the unclean toilets and that there was usually no water supply in schools. Students also pointed out that there are no sweepers hired to clean the classrooms and thus they lie dirty for several days.

Some brought up issues such as non-availability of clean drinking water, non-functional fans and shortage of desks and chairs in classroom.

“The right to education of children studying in such schools is severely endangered under these conditions,” said Agarwal.

“The state of schools in the Capital is also setting a bad precedent for the rest of the country. These schools are meant to lay foundation for children’s future development and such sort of extreme negligence is unfortunate,” added Agarwal.