Middle School in Dardgund Devsar without fencing
Middle School in Dardgund Devsar without fencing
Wild animals are seen roaming around, minor students’ lives at risk, say locals
Fencing of the school has been proposed and will be projected in the coming time: Official
Kulgam, July 26 : The Middle School located at Gujjar Nad Dardgund in the Devsar zone of the Kulgam district in south Kashmir is without fencing from last twelve years.
Sources told that the school, established in year 1989 and was upgraded to middle school in 2009 is located within the forest area and the wild animals are often seen roaming in the area.
“ We have approached the Zonal Education Office (ZEO) several times requesting the authorities to fence in the school but were told they are facing scarcity of funds,” said a parent.
Around 51 students, all minors, studying at school are at the constant risk because the school is located close to the forest area which is mostly risk for students because leopards, bears and other wild animals roam in the area freely.
Nisar Ahmad, a local, told that mostly leopards, bears and other wild animals roam in the area and pose a big threat to their lives.
“ We don’t want any human-animal conflict. Our kids are studying in a building that has no borders.
And because it is a foreste area, wild animals may cause harm to lives of our kids,” he added.
A group of students said that their every day’s journey to and fro from the school is filled with risks.
“ We have to walk in groups for our safety at all times since the wild animals are always on the prowl and there is every chance of any wild animal pouncing on us.
In the absence of a boundary wall, there is no surety of us being safe within the school as well.
There have been instances when the bears and leopards ventured inside the homes and cowsheds of the locals in our area,” said a group of students.
Meanwhile, An official in the education department said the issue of the fencing of the school has been proposed and will be projected in the coming time.
“ There are other institutions too that lack walling, we have already taken note of it and will be taken care of,” he said.(CNI)
