ITIFAQ LONE
SANKOO: In a small village Humbree in Tehsil Sankoo of Kargil district, the only government run Girls’ Middle School has been non-functional for weeks amid land dispute between the land donor and the authorities.
This has caused a great deal of concern among the local community as young girls in the area are being deprived of education. The school has been in despair, and despite repeated appeals to the authorities, no action has been taken to get it functional, grieved one of the parents.
The Earth News has learnt that girl students at GMS Humbree are forced to return home since the land donor has reportedly seized the school premises, the way leading to school as he is yet to receive land compensation.
The enrolment of students in GMS Humbree is declining. Currently in the entire Kargil district of the UT, 259 government run Upper Primary schools are functioning with a total enrolment of 3249 students.
The GMS Hambree was established in 2007 under SSA, since then the four classroom school building has been deprived of basic facilities including Health and Sanitation, Playground, toilet etc.
As per the reports the land owners demand government jobs in compensation for the land provided for the school. Parents of the students have expressed their frustration at the lack of action by the concerned department and the district administration, saying that the education of young girls is being jeopardized. Many of these young girls come from low-income families, and the absence of a functioning school means that they are being denied the opportunity to receive an education.
The problem has been exacerbated by the fact that there are no other girls’ schools in the area. However, another government run boys school is nearby.
Local activists have been working tirelessly to bring attention to the issue and demanding action from the authorities.
“Education is a fundamental right, and denying young girls access to it is a violation of their basic human rights,” said one of the activists, adding, “The education of young girls is being compromised.”
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kargil, Mushtaq Ahmad informed that the way leading to GMS Humbree has been blocked by the land owner resulting in the closure of the educational institute. If the issue persists for some time more, the school will be clubbed and students will be shifted to nearby school.
Deputy Commissioner Kargil, and Chief Executive Officer LAHDC, Santosh Sukhadeve while speaking to The Earth News said, “People of the areas are opposing the construction of the school building, children are currently taught outside the building.”
The DC said that he has directed the CEO and concerned Tehsildar to submit a detailed report about the school land dispute. “We will take action after a detailed report is submitted by the CEO and Tehsildar of the area,” DC Santosh concluded.
