Guntur, October 12: The after effects of heavy floods in the Krishna river, which disturbed normal life in at least half of Guntur district, are starting to get more visible.
While it is given that the resurrection and smoothening of infrastructure glitches, which formed thanks to the floods, would take some time, especially so because the State Government currently lacks the muscle to finance it; a more serious problem is regarding the future of over 10,000 students of the district.
During the recent floods, most schools in the submerged and partially and fully inundated villages and towns were badly hit, in terms of infrastructure.
Besides the schools were put out of functioning for a considerable time and are not yet ready to get started immediately as either the infrastructure has been badly damaged or the students families have been badly affected, as is the situation in most cases.“At this time of the year students need to be preparing for half yearly exams and most students in the lanka villages and close by towns have either lost their books in the floods or have their houses extensively damaged or washed away, attending to which would be their immediate need,’’ said Visvesvar Rao, a revenue official overlooking the relief efforts in Bellamkonda mandal.
It is estimated that around 132 schools in 12 affected mandals of Guntur district have been damaged either partially, considerably or badly, but nevertheless all are not functioning currently have an estimated strength of 50,000 students right from Class 1 to 10th. A total of 98 primary schools, 24 upper primary schools and 10 secondary schools have been affected in Guntur district, said the Guntur District Educational Officer.
“Most of these people have reported loss of textbooks and notebooks, which can become a serious impediment to their studies, more so in the context of the time that they have to take off the school to attend to their families besides the short period of around 15 – 20 days for the half yearly exams,’’ says a school teacher of the Papayapalem Government Primary School of Bellamkonda mandal.
“I have lost all my books and my family has also lost our house, a hut. I am facing a tough time, as my mother asks me to help her out and the exams are nearing. But, with no time to study besides no books with me or my friends, it has become a big problem, said Lakshmi, a Eighth Class student in Kolluru village of Bellamkonda mandal, who goes to the Papayapalem school every day by a bus. It remains to be seen what action the government would try and take to mitigate these very genuine problems of the children. Besides these problems have to be dealt with a kind heart, as any untoward action would mean that many of these kids might be weaned away from education completely by their parents, especially so in the case of the girl child.
–Agencies–