Back-to-back polls turn blessing for Palamuru schools

Mahbubnagar: The consecutive elections that have been taking place ever since December last have come as a blessing for the government schools located across various parts of the district.

Earlier, the government schools have suffered from inadequate infrastructure facilities like lack of toilets, proper doors, windows, water facility and in most cases, the flooring and steps and ramp ways in shambles. But now thanks to the continuous elections, the district election authorities across the four districts have ensured that all those schools which were selected as polling booths were fitted with proper electrification, fans, windows and repaired the flooring, steps and ramps.

In fact, in some schools because of lack of proper toilets more than 40-50 girls used to stand in line to use a single bathroom and toilet. In some government schools availability of potable water was unimaginable and students had to carry their water bottles to the schools. "Government schools in various parts of erstwhile Mahbubnagar are still in shambles even today, though the continuous elections may have helped a few schools get renewed. But even today, the lack of proper infrastructure facilities in government schools is still a big concern. Unless and until the government focuses on improving the infrastructure facilities in schools, it is very difficult for the teachers to ensure the students achieve 100 per cent quality education," said a retired teacher Jayamma from Jadcherla.

Every year, a few schools get funds for upgradation of facilities from the government. But the amounts are most of the times meagre and insufficient. The academic sessions start and end, but the school children continue to suffer due to lack of infrastructure as basic as toilets, drinking water and benches.

However, this year, the continuous marathon elections which began in in December 2018 with Assembly elections, one can definitely say that it has come as blessing in disguise for the government schools across the State of Telangana. In the last six months, at least some of the basic facilities like toilets, water and tables and benches were arranged.

For instance, in Mahbubnagar and Narayanpet districts, the concerned district administrations have undertaken multiple renovation works in schools ahead of polling season. As many as 37 schools have been constructed with new toilets and more than 100 schools got the existing toilet facilities renovated.

For the differently-abled voters, the district administration has constructed ramps in at least 408 schools, which will also be useful for differently-abled children studying in these schools.

In both Narayanpet and Mahbubnagar, a majority schools had their power connections cut as they had no funds to pay the power bills. However, the district officials ensured that the electricity connection in these schools is restored, thanks to the elections.

As the Lok Sabha elections were held in the middle of summer season, the district administration installed as many as 1,072 fans in 102 schools in Mahbubnagar district. "Had there not been elections, nobody would have bothered to see the infrastructure facilities in the schools. The will to do something good is not there among the authorities unless and until there is a political pressure. So, it is evident that unless there is no compulsion of doing, certain things won't be done," felt another teacher Jayamani.