Hyderabad: The government can make ambitious announcements about providing food security and the right to education, but the intent needs to be reflected in commitments made in providing allocations to sectors like primary education. Otherwise, children who should be in school will continue to be out of it like it happened in Hyderabad.
Over 100 primary school children were locked out of their school in Hyderabad's Old City area because the government has not paid rent for the premises for three years now. The landlord decided that till he gets his Rs 80,000, the students will stay out.
"The landlord said he will open the school after the payment for three years at the rate of Rs 2240 per month was made," said Safia Tarunnum, principal in-charge.
It took four hours and the intervention of the local MLA to get the students inside the extremely dingy and cramped two classrooms, where the portrait of India's first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad looks on helplessly.
The building has no power connection. The headmistress says the landlord thought it was too much luxury when even the rent was not paid. The district education officer arrived at the end to promise the rent will be paid within a week.
"Till now I have not got my budget. We have written for additional funds," said education officer Victoria Devkumari.
When it is a battle to even gain entry into the two tiny rooms that the students call their school, we know what Kapil Sibal and his ambitious plans for education in India will be up against.