MUKESH SHARMA
Kalimpong, September 22:

May it be Private or a Government, a School is a place where the children spend most of their time. Along with education the parents expect the teachers to imbibe moral values in their children. Apart
from these, the Schools are also expected to deliver proper security to the kids, so that the parents and guardians may remain tension free once their kids enter the School premises. But at times when questions
regarding security arise, the parents are compelled to choose the 

Private Schools On such condition is of Sarawati Rudra Junior Basic School, situated at Bong Busty, 2 kms away from the main town of Kalimpong. This particular School which has classes up to V does not seem to have the possibility in the numbers of students to increase. All the Governmental facilities have been provided, such as Midday meal, free uniform and books and less School fee, however, when it comes to security, the facility is nil. This 2 storey School was established in the year 1956-57. Due to the shortage of funds from the Government, the School lacks in maintenance. The last year’s 6.8 richter scale earthquake proved to be a bonus for this set back. The School Administration shut down the ground floor from further usage as it incurred deep cracks due to the earthquake. Now the School falls short of a hall and a classroom. The leftover 3 rooms in the 1st floor include 2 classrooms and a staffroom. The 1st floor has wooden flooring and the condition of the ceiling remains deteriorated. It seems that since its establishment, the ceiling has remained the same and never maintained. In order to protect the classrooms from being flooded with water, a tarpaulin sheet has been spread below the ceiling. However, during heavy rainfall, the classes need to be cancelled and the School remains closed. It has been informed that one of the classrooms remain closed as earlier the children and the teacher fell on the ground floor below as the wooden floor of the classroom broke away. The School has 5 teachers in total, but the number of students is very few. The School Administration now remains hopeful that soon the School will be renovated as the School was inspected by the Education Department, MLA, GJM Chief and the concerned Sabhasad.