Imphal, April 03 2010: The death of a young schoolgirl in a school building collapse during one of the heavy thunderstorm that has been wreaking havoc here in Manipur for the last few days has raised questions about the state government's policy of granting recognition to schools in the state.

Nine-year old Konsam Roshni of Lilong Arapti village in Imphal East district was killed after being hit by a falling pillar when heavy thunderstorm accompanied by hailstones tore down a building of Gouro Thambal Memorial Academy located at Arapti Mayai Leikai on Thursday last during school hours.

Around 60 students of the school also sustained injuries in the school collapse.

Roshni's parents Konsam Sanathoi @ Robindro and Konsam (o) Rebika today submitted an application to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Imphal East district requesting proper inquiry into the incident as well as to the government norms regarding granting of recognition of schools.

The CWC Imphal East district had this afternoon conducted a spot inquiry into the incident alongwith a combined team of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Imphal East, Childline-Manipur, Coalition on Children's Right to Protection (CCRP)-Manipur and Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC).

Speaking to this correspondent, member secretary of CWC Imphal East district and state co-ordinator of CCRP, Keisham Pradip related, "The first impression we had after seeing the said school is its inadequate infrastructure especially in proportion to the number of students." Around 580 students are at present reportedly enrolled between nursery to Class VIII at the Gouro Thambal Memorial Academy which was founded in 2003 .

"The bamboo pillars of the school are not even implanted inside the earth, but placed above the ground on stone platforms like the traditional Manipuri outhouses, while the walls are woven bamboo splits plastered with mud.

Even these were falling apart in many places.

Also essential structures of a building like beams etc were absent," he added.

Referring to the application by Roshni's parents, he said that the matter will be discussed threadbare at a CWC Manipur sitting at the earliest to discuss possible steps to be taken up in this regard.

Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) member Nongyai who was part of the spot inquiry team today told mediapersons, "How did the government grant recognition to such a school? Granting recognition to schools without a proper survey of school infrastructure and other aspects by flouting government norms is a direct assault on both Right to Life and Right to Education." The Gouro Thambal Memorial Academy was recognized by the state government last year.

A press release by CCRP Manipur convener S.Sharaju noted that "the incident should not be construed merely a result of natural calamity, but there are lapses and negligence on the part of School Management and as well as the Concerned Officials of Education Department" .

Questioning the visible negligence and recklessness on the part of the school management and founder of the school for running the school with inadequate infrastructure thereby putting the precious lives of hundreds of children at great risk, the CCRP further urged the state government to institute an enquiry to find out how did the concerned officials of the Education (S) department gave recognition to the school ( bearing registration No.12/13/08SE (S) ) last year, despite the poor quality infrastructures.

"The erring officials should be booked," it added.

The CCRP further called for physical checking of the standard of buildings and infrastructures of all the schools, both government and private to prevent similar tragedies in the future, cancellation of unfit schools should be cancelled, stoppage of the mushroom growth of private schools, and compulsory training of teachers (both private and government) on Disaster Management skills.

It may be mentioned here that the ongoing rainfall and thunderstorm in the state is three times higher than that of last year's pattern, according to Meteorological (MET) Office Imphal sources.

When compared with last year's record, state has a record of around 202.3 mm rainfall rate till April 3 against last year's 51.7 mm.

"This rainfall pattern has become one of the heaviest rainfall rates in the recent years," an official of MET office here said.

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