BARPETA March 3 � At a time when crores of rupees has been spent under the Sarva Siksha Abhijan for universal primary education in the country, a large number of children in Barpeta district are facing uncertainty regarding their future life.
Continuous erosion by the Brahmaputra and Beki has not only affected the geography and demography in Barpeta district, but has also severely affected the academic environment in the riverine areas of the district. Recurring erosion has already destroyed nearly hundred villages and has entirely changed the geography of the district. The backbone of the economy of the district has been broken as lakhs of bighas of agricultural land belonging to the poor farmers have been washed away by the continuous erosion for the last six decades.
But the latest cause of concern for the people of the district is the deteriorating academic environment of the riverine areas due to the destruction of schools due to the onslaught of erosion.
According to available information, several schools ranging from primary to high schools have faced the brunt of erosion. As many as 54 primary and middle school have been eroded in 2013 and 2014 alone. This has paralysed elementary education in some villages under Chenga, Baghbar, Barpeta and Kalgachia revenue circle areas of the district.
While a few schools have been rebuilt, in some other locations most of the schools buildings are awaiting reconstruction. A few of them are running in temporary sheds, that too built by teachers at their own cost. Existence of some others is not visible anywhere. As a result, teachers and students of these schools have to spend their days in uncertainty. Guardians have to spend sleepless nights apprehending their wards� future.
Some teachers and guardians informed that they have approached both the district administration and the Education department to reconstruct the school buildings at the earliest. It was also alleged that the Sarva Siksha Abhijan has asked the local school managing committees to provide land for construction of school buildings. But it is not possible for them to purchase land. Besides there is paucity of land in these areas as the displaced people have built their dwelling houses in a scattered manner leaving the least opportunity to purchase open land at reasonable prices.
A few teachers of the displaced schools informed that growth of number of students in the newly-constructed temporary schools show a negative trend. They attribute it to the exodus of the displaced people after losing their homes in erosion and engagement of students in other activities to earn their livelihood due to compulsion.
According to information provided by an official of the Sarva Siksha Abhijan, Barpeta district they have submitted proposals for reconstruction of all the erosion-hit school buildings of the district and the approval from State Mission is awaited. But he declined to answer queries regarding the time and the pattern of rebuilding giving clear indications that he does not know about it as it depends upon fund and also the intention of the persons authorised to sanction the scheme.
From recent statements from several responsible persons it has come to light that erosion has not been regarded as a natural calamity till now. As a result, payment of compensation for loss due to erosion is not possible. If this remains so, then thousands of children in Barpeta district will have to be debarred from education for life.
