HAILAKANDI, Jan 8 - After the sudden closure of Cachar Paper Mill of Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) at Panchgram of Hailakandi district on October 20, 2015, the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Panchgram is also facing the threat of an imminent closure.
Kendriya Vidyalaya at Panchgram came into existence in 1984 with the vision of imparting quality education to the children of the employees of HPC and people of nearby areas. The Vidyalaya is sponsored by Cachar Paper Mill, Panchgram of HPC and administered by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.
The problem of the school started last week after the sudden resignation of 10 contractual post-graduate teachers of the school for non-payment of salaries. The authorities had to close the school due to shortage of teachers on the plea of winter vacation. With the closure of the school, the future of 340 students has become uncertain, alleged a guardian of the student.
The teachers have not been paid salaries since September this year. The examination is scheduled for March and the guardians are passing sleepless nights due to the closure of the school. The authorities have cited lack of water and electricity facilities as reasons for closure of the school. But the guardian allege the school has been closed due to the lack of teachers and not because of the reasons cited by the authority.
The total teaching and non-teaching staff of the school is 34. Out of them, eight are non-teaching staff. Only 13 regular teaching staff are working at present and this is not sufficient, informed school sources. The total number of student is 340.
The principal of the school, Dr Sunil Kumar has admitted to the problems the school is facing. He said that the matter has been informed to the higher authorities.
It may be mentioned here that around 1500 regular and contractual workers of the HPC paper mill here have not got their salaries for more than one-and-a-half years due to the closure of the mill. Meanwhile, the mill authorities have stopped the payment to the Kendriya Vidyalaya. The amount to be paid to the Vidyalaya has soared and the Union Ministry Human Resource Development is unable to pay the arrear amounts.
The guardians are really in a dilemma because the future of their wards is in the dark just before the examination. One of the guardians, on condition of anonymity, said that they are planning to start an agitation for the revival of the school.