Banswara Principals Condemn 'Scapegoating' of PO Principal in Jhalawar School Collapse, Demand Withdrawal of Increment Freeze

Expressing grief over the death of nine students in a building collapse at the Primary School in Pipolodi village, Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, nine months ago, education officers in Banswara district have appealed to the Rajasthan Government and the Education Department to reconsider the order that held the Principal (PO Principal), who had been serving for less than three months, responsible and withheld two of his salary increments.

In a meeting organized at the Ghatol sub-division headquarters under the leadership of the Rajasthan Teacher Association (Siyaram faction), education officers held that the building collapse nine months ago was due to a weak roof from heavy rainfall. They also held responsible the Gram Panchayat of Pipolodi, which had carried out repairs one and a half years prior.

While opposing the order that holds the innocent PO Principal responsible, labeling him a scapegoat for negligence during 'Shala Sambalan' (school supervision/inspection) based on a superficial investigation, it was announced that the order would be burnt (protest symbolically) on April 20th at the district headquarters. A warning memorandum will also be submitted to the state government through the district administration.

Lack of Technical Degree/Skills: PO Principal Being Asked for Building Safety Certificate

Education officers stated that a PO Principal does not possess the technical degree or skills to determine if a school building is safe or unsafe. For this purpose, the department has technical officers (AEN, JEN) and teams stationed at the subdivision offices. Their job is to release budgets for building construction and repairs and to issue safety certificates for buildings.

It is noteworthy that certificates for new building constructions are issued by AENs/JENs who have the technical qualifications. It is well-known that education officers and PO Principals have no role in commissions or corruption in construction. Therefore, making them scapegoats for building safety is unjust.

Speakers argued that a PO Principal, coming from an academic background, ensures teaching arrangements. Under 'Shala Sambalan' (school strengthening/guidelines), they focus on aspects like students' educational levels, staff attendance, cleanliness, toilet conditions, homework checking, etc. They do not provide guidance on building safety.

PO Principals Have No Moral Authority to Comment on Dilapidated Schools

Due to their lack of technical knowledge and skills, PO Principals have no moral authority to comment on the dilapidated, ruined, and shabby condition of school buildings.

In the aforementioned Pipolodi school accident, the Principal, who had been posted for less than three months, was held responsible solely because he had inspected the school and conducted 'Shala Sambalan'. This is a clear case of "punishing the innocent for the guilty" and a living proof of the attempt to save the members of the Gram Panchayat of Pipolodi, who had carried out repairs a year earlier.

Commenting on their own department, education officers stated that the condition of most government schools in Rajasthan is dilapidated. Instead of having technical officers (AEN, JEN) inspect these schools and release budgets for repairs and new constructions, pressure is being applied to teachers and PO Principals to provide certificates of building safety, which is condemnable and inappropriate.

Among those who signed the memorandum included Lalit R. Patidar Mahipal Bhuta, Arun Kumar Vyas, Badan Lal Damor, Shripal Jain, Daya Lal Yadav, Nanuram Damor, and several other PO Principals.