Missing from revenue records, 1895-built school in Dharashiv lacks basic amenities

A Zilla Parishad school in Maharashtra, set up 130 years ago, is struggling to get a new building or renovate the existing one as the institute is missing from revenue records and also does not possess a key land ownership document.

The school at Sawargaon under Tuljapur tehsil of Dharashiv district has nearly 900 students and operates out of a ramshackled building. The institute is finding it difficult to undertake even repair work or provide basic amenities to students as its existence is missing from the state’s revenue records, an official said on Wednesday.

The Zilla Parishad-run school holds classes for students from classes I to X.

Atul Pawar, School Management Committee president, said, “We have a strength of nearly 900 students in the school established in 1895. Last year, one of our Class X students scored 98.10 per cent in state board exam. Eight other students scored over 90 per cent marks. But the school has a dilapidated building and no construction activity has taken place in nearly 20 years."

The pre-Independence-era schools lacks even basic amenities for students.

“As many as eighteen classrooms have been sanctioned for the school, but the work has not commenced due to administrative reasons. Students have no benches to sit, toilets are in bad condition and there is no space to prepare mid-day meals for students.”

“We have a huge strength, but students do not have even basic facilities. As a result we have to make 80 students sit in one classroom," Pawar stated.

When contacted, Zilla Parishad CEO Mainak Ghosh noted there is an issue with documentation of the school, which does not have 7/12 extract (a key land ownership document) of its own.

“A letter has been issued to the revenue department by the district collector to take measurements of the school. Once the exercise is completed, we can move towards providing necessary sanctions (for building repair or new construction)," Ghosh stated.

India