Chandigarh, June 4
The Sirsa MP, Former Union Minister, Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member and AICC General Secretary Kumari Selja has expressed concern over the lack of basic infrastructure in government schools across Haryana, saying that the ground reality contradicts the government’s tall claims about educational reforms. Referring to a recently published report, Selja said thousands of government schools in the state continue to face a severe shortage of essential facilities, including functional toilets, boundary walls, infrastructure for specially-abled students and other basic amenities.
According to the report, toilets in 2,064 schools require urgent repairs, while boundary walls in 2,220 schools are in a dilapidated condition. Thousands of schools also lack adequate facilities for girl students and children with disabilities. Selja said that while the government frequently highlights initiatives such as e-libraries, smart classrooms, digital education and computer-based learning, the absence of basic sanitation facilities paints a different picture.
Selja termed the lack of proper toilets for girls particularly alarming, noting that it adversely affects both their education and health. Quality education is not merely about technology and digital tools. Kumari Selja said the first requirement is a safe and supportive learning environment with access to clean drinking water, toilets, boundary walls and other basic facilities.
Selja added that the findings indicate serious shortcomings in the condition of government schools across Haryana. She urged the state government to move beyond advertisements and promotional campaigns and focus on addressing ground-level issues in the education sector.
Selja demanded a comprehensive review of all government schools in the state and called for immediate action to ensure the availability of toilets, boundary walls, facilities for differently-abled students and other essential infrastructure before the start of the new academic session.
