Pressure group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday raised questions over the amenities and facilities made available to Adivasi (Tribal) students at a tribal school in Maharashtra, alleging that the children residing and studying there are devoid of basic amenities such as proper beds and washrooms, while textbooks distributed to them carry pictures of the state’s Chief Minister (CM), Devendra Fadnavis.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke levelled the allegations during a visit to what he called an ‘ashram school,’ a residential school where students live and study. He also shared a video of his visit on social media.
Visuals shared by Dipke
Students shed light on lack of bathing facilities
In the video, a student is heard elaborating on the hurdles faced by children while bathing at the school. The student said in the video, “This is our bathroom. Even in the rainy season, we take a bath here. We don’t even have the facility to take a bath here. We take a bucket of water from the borewell and take a bath.”
Dipke, while describing the facility, alleged that the washroom did not have a roof or a tap. He added that the students were forced to bathe in the facility despite the lack of basic infrastructure. Dipke asserted, “This is basically an ashram school. It’s like a boarding school. Children study here and live here. They have to take a bath in this bathroom.”
He added to the allegations, saying that the students were being provided inadequate facilities, placing the bathing arrangement on par with a stable.
CJP voices questions over use of CM’s picture
Dipke also alleged that the books distributed at the school had photographs of CM Fadnavis engraved on them. While pointing to the alleged shortcomings at the school, he questioned the government’s priorities and claimed that publicity was being given more importance as compared to the facilities made available to the students.
He remarked, “Even though there is a facility here, in this ashram school, books are distributed with photos of the CM of Maharashtra. This is more important. Publicity is more important.” Furthermore, he accused politicians of prioritising public relations over students’ welfare, opining that the children’s access to basic facilities appeared to be receiving inadequate attention.
CJP founder Dipke
However, the allegations levelled by Dipke could not be independently verified.
Rajasthan water tank claim comes to the fore
Meanwhile, CJP’s co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka raised a separate issue with regard to an Adivasi school in Rajasthan.
Ranka too filmed a video, in which he can be heard claiming that the Rajasthan government installed a water tank valued at Rs 2.5 lakh at a school for tribal children. He alleged that although the tank had three outlets, only one tap had been installed and even that was not supplying water.
He questioned why such an expensive tank had been laid if it was not functional. He criticised the condition of the facility, saying, “We need to know where did this Rs 2.5 lakh go. We demand answers, the locals of this village demand answers.” These allegations too, could not be verified independently.