Madhya Pradesh: Students Walk 20 Km to Indore Against 'Mismanagement' at Govt School

Around 150 students from a government-run residential school in Madhya Pradesh undertook a 20-kilometer journey from their village to the Indore collector's office on Tuesday to protest alleged mismanagement at their facility. Indore collector, Ilayaraja T, addressed the situation and assured reporters that he had initiated a thorough investigation into the students' complaints.

During the protest in front of the district collector's office, witnesses reported that at least two students fainted. One of the students received immediate first aid and was taken away in a police vehicle for medical attention.

Notably, the Gyanodaya Residential School, located about 20 km from Indore in Morod village, had been granted the prestigious "Centre of Excellence" status by the state government. The school offers free admission to meritorious students who score 60 percent or above marks. However, the protesting students alleged that the school management refused to provide financial assistance for the treatment of a fellow student who had suffered injuries after falling from the third floor of the institute. To cover the injured student's medical expenses at a private hospital, the students themselves raised Rs 19,000.

The protesting students also highlighted other issues plaguing the school, such as a shortage of books and regular teachers. They expressed concerns over the inadequate learning resources and the absence of proper teaching staff.

Following the protest, the district collector personally met with the students and assured them that an Additional District Magistrate (ADM) would conduct a comprehensive inquiry into their grievances. He pledged that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible if any irregularities were uncovered during the investigation.

The collector further promised to address the shortage of regular teachers at the school and improve its library and hostel facilities. He also stated his intention to report these matters to the state government to seek further support and resources for the school's betterment.