Schools in West Bengal's Bankura district lack basic facilities

Bankura, Feb 28 (ANI): Two out of 10 state-run schools functioning in Bankura - a Maoist affected district of West Bengal, lack basic facilities.

According to Swapan Kumar Karga, a teacher, the schools have been shutdown due to insufficient books, non-availability of mid-day meals and poor infrastructure.

"The schools just have one room, they lack facilities for the children and there is not even mid-day meal for the them. This sort of situation is affecting the schools" he said

Thousands of school students of the impoverished families in the district are eligible for food under the government sponsored Mid-Day Meal programme.

The main objective of the programme is to retain students in classrooms rather than losing them to family pressures for earning additional income.

Locals are also facing problems to send their children to schools, as most of the schools are located near Maoist hideouts.

However, Karga added that students would start coming to the schools if the facilities are improved.

"At least the students should be given the required books so that they can study and sit in the tests. They should be provided with warm clothes during winter months," he added.

According to the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, every child in the age group of 6-14 years has the right to free and compulsory education.(ANI)