Roofless polling station leaves staff shocked

Roofless school building allotted as polling station in Khawas area of Kotranka in district Rajouri. -Excelsior/Bhat
Roofless school building allotted as polling station in Khawas area of Kotranka in district Rajouri. -Excelsior/Bhat

Villagers come to rescue; arrange shelter, food

Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 3: The District administration Rajouri had to face major embarrassment after the pictures of a school building without roof and broken walls allotted as polling station in remote and mountainous Khawas area near Budhal went viral on social media drawing attention of the people and State administration.
The polling staff members along with security staff when reached the village Lambi Keri near Kot Charwal in Khawas in Darhal constituency this evening, were shocked to see the condition of school building.
It was surprising for the staff to see that neither there was roof of complete widows or doors nor complete walls of the first ever ‘strange polling station’ they had ever seen. The tin sheets of the front premises had also been missing. They kept the polling machines and other luggage in the open and started calling Deputy Commissioner, Additional DC Rajouri and Tehsildar concerned for telling the condition of the building allotted as polling station at the village. There was intense cold in the area and the staff started shivering.
The villagers of the area came to the rescue of the staff and provided them some timber for making fire and also offered a few chairs and water etc. Some of them also offered them shelter at their respective homes.
It is said that this Primary School building was constructed under SSA during 2011 but with in 5-6 years it was converted into ruins. The walls have developed large cracks and roof was totally damaged. The windows and doors were missing while there was compound wall at all. The children are forced to study in the open and during rains, the schools is closed.
It is surprising to note that this village falls in Darhal constituency, represented by the former Education Minister from PDP, Ch Zulfkar Ali. The villagers alleged that they had requested to the concerned MLA, ZEO and even the former SDM Kotranka to restore school building but nothing was done in this regard.
The condition of this school building has totally exposed the previous PDP-BJP Govt claims of massive development and the State administration under Governor of its efficiency.
While the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, could not be contacted despite repeated calls, Additional DC Sher Singh said that matter came to his notice in the afternoon and an inquiry into the matter was ordered. He said some plastic sheets and tents have been dispatched to the village for polling staff. The lection will be held at the same venue.
The ADC further said that he also talked to the Chief Education Officer, Rajouri Lal Hussain and inquired about the condition of school telling that how this building has been left in shambles and not repaired. The CEO has claimed that school has been temporarily shifted to a private building and funds could not be generated for the same. He assured action in this connection.
Meanwhile, the locals of the area have sought attention of the Governor into matter and hold high level probe with regard to failure on the part of district administration Rajouri and Education authorities, which have miserably failed to maintain building of this Government school that has posed risk to the scores students and also affected their studies.