After CJP joins Alwar school students' protest, authorities promise repairs and teachers

Students and local residents of Government Senior Secondary School at Jodhawas in Alwar district, Rajasthan, have been protesting for two days against the dilapidated condition of the school and a shortage of teachers. The protest gained momentum on Friday when about 50 activists of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by its co-convener Ashutosh Ranka, joined them.

The school has been facing severe infrastructure and staffing issues. Earlier this week, a slab from the roof of a closed-down building fell. No students were present at the time. The incident prompted fears among parents and students about their safety. The school currently operates from a three-room building that accommodates 174 children, the staff room, and the principal's office. Students have also complained of leaks during the rainy season. Of the six sanctioned senior teacher posts, five are vacant.

The protest began on Wednesday, a day after the slab fell, and continued without any concrete response from authorities. Students staged a sit-in outside the school, demanding immediate repair of the building and appointment of teachers. Local residents also participated, expressing concerns about their children's safety and education. On Friday, the CJP activists arrived to show solidarity.

During the protest, Mr. Ranka and other CJP activists got into a heated argument with police personnel. They alleged that some people they claimed were associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) entered the school and assaulted protesters. The police have not yet issued a response to this allegation.

Addressing the protesters, Mr. Ranka referred to the recent students' protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which led to the resignation of the Union Education Minister. "The interests of students in Rajasthan will not be allowed to be compromised," he said. He further claimed that approximately 84,000 classrooms across Rajasthan are in a dilapidated condition, endangering the future of 15 lakh children. He warned that if the BJP government fails to repair these classrooms, it should prepare for the largest protest in the state's history.

Mr. Ranka also raised questions about funding for school infrastructure. He pointed out that State Education Minister Madan Dilawar had said that ₹20,000 crore is required for constructing buildings, but the government has only released ₹500 crore. He demanded that funds be arranged from all sources, including the PM CARES Fund and loans from the Centre. He argued that the current allocation was insufficient to address the scale of the problem and urged the state government to seek additional central assistance.

The Cockroach Janta Party, known for its unusual name and focus on civic issues, has often participated in protests highlighting public grievances. Among the CJP activists who joined the protest were Deepak Balyan, Mukesh Allrounder, Apoorv, Ram, and Ayaz. The party said it decided to join the protest to amplify the students' voices and ensure that authorities take immediate action.

On Friday evening, senior officers of the Education Department arrived at the school and held talks with the protesters, after which the sit-in was called off. Chief District Education Officer Mahesh Gupta said the shortage of teachers would be addressed and steps would be taken to resolve all grievances.

The Education Department assured the protesters that all classrooms would be repaired within a week and that seven new classrooms would be constructed over the next three months. A playground for the children will be prepared by the village panchayat within the next three months. Authorities also promised that a damaged bridge on the approach road to the school would be made motorable within two days.

The protest underscores the challenges faced by government schools in rural Rajasthan, where inadequate infrastructure and staff shortages often compromise the quality of education. The assurances given by the authorities will now be monitored by the community to ensure timely implementation.