The Lions Club of Ponda has appealed to authorities to shift the school students of the primary, lower and upper KG of government-aided school at Jaceenagar-Ponda to safer premises.
The students studying in the school are from the poorer sections of society and some of them are of migrant labourers.
The school building is in a dilapidated condition and water seeps through the roof, as the terrace is uncovered since last many years and about 180 students are facing hardship due to the leakage in five classrooms.
Briefing reporters, Ponda Lions Club President Ajay Buva and former president Sagar Sakordekar said the club had informed the education department officer at Ponda since last year regarding the dilapidated condition of the old school building.
Buva said Lions Club has been repairing the building, but it becomes difficult for them to provide well-furnished toilets, washroom in the building, as the building owner is not cooperating with them.
“Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar has been also informed about the status of the building. PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar has assured to provide cement sheets to cover the terrace, but in the absence of NOC from the owner, we are facing hardship to undertake the repair work,” said Buva.
Lions Club of Ponda had started the school in a house belonging to Dekne at Upper Bazzar, Ponda, in 1979. It was shifted to the building at Jayceenagar in 1990 and since then, students are studying in Marathi medium in a rented building belonging to Ponda JC Community Centre.
While 77 students are studying in upper and lower KG, there are 28 students in Std 1, 29 in Std 2, 17 in Std 3 and 18 students in Std 4.
Buva and Sakordekar have suggested to the education department to shift the students to a vacant government building at Mestawada-Curti, which is situated hardly 200 mtrs away from the present building. “The vacant building school was closed due to lack of students a year ago, which can be best utilised by shifting the students,” said Buva.
