Visually Impaired Students in Jabalpur Protest Neglect at Government Blind School

Jabalpur-In a bold stand against perceived neglect, visually impaired students from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, have launched a protest within the premises of the Government Blind School. Chanting slogans against the MP government, these students are demanding attention to longstanding issues affecting their education and well-being.

The protest, initiated on Saturday, raise a range of concerns, including outdated musical instruments, inadequate staffing, and alarming accusations of substance abuse among the school's employees. As more than 80 students press for action, the situation highlights the urgent need for the government and school management to address systemic challenges impacting the education and safety of visually impaired students.

The students are resolute in their stance—no classes will resume until their grievances are addressed, despite the persuasive efforts of teachers.

With over 80 students enrolled in the school under the purview of the Department of Social Justice and Disability Welfare, the students emphasize that their complaints have been reported to senior officials without yielding any solutions. Frustrated by the lack of redress, the students find themselves compelled to resort to a strike as a last resort.

Rajaram Patel, a student at the Government Blind School, laments a five-year struggle for improvements. Damaged musical instruments from two decades ago persist in their music classes, and the school's deteriorating condition poses an imminent threat to student safety. Despite engaging in discussions with officials and the collector, the students have found no satisfactory solutions, leading them to the uncompromising decision to embark on a strike.

Allegations of Employee Misconduct

The students claim that some employees in the school are drug addicts, and many students are getting addicted to drugs in their company. This is negatively impacting the education of the students. Shiv Shankar, the Principal in-charge of the school, mentioned that action has been taken against the employees against whom complaints were received, and they have been removed. Additionally, continuous correspondence is being made to the government regarding the shortage of musical instruments and teachers for the students. Guest teachers have been appointed due to the shortage of regular teachers.

Commissioner of the Disabled Persons Department, Sandeep Rajak, said that information related to the students' demands has been received. The school has seen improvements, and he plans to write a letter to the Jabalpur Collector, instructing him to visit the school and address the children's problems.

Story Translated by Geetha Sunil Pillai

Also Read-