SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Oct 28: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi has directed the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhanbad to take immediate action for the safety of DAV Public School, Sindri, and inform in 20 days of receiving the notice.
NCPCR Registrar, Anu Choudhary, in her notice to the Dhanbad DC has said that despite several reminder letters of the commission, he (DC) has not furnished details of ‘action taken report’ (ATR) on the construction of the school’s playground boundary. So, taking the matter seriously, the Commission has decided to hold an inquiry on its own level.
“Therefore, you are requested to take immediate action in the matter and make available all necessary records within 20 days to the Commission, failing which the Commission will be constrained to initiate ‘Summon’ proceeding seeking his personal appearance for explanation over non-compliance of the order as per Section 14 of the CPCR Act, 2005,” said Anu Choudhary.
NCPCR has acted on the complaint of a guardian, Umesh Goswami, a resident of the Nirsa block of the district. He had lodged a complaint with NCPCR that in lack of a boundary wall of the school (DAV Sindri Rangamati School) safety of students is at risk. Anti-social elements, bulls, cows and oxen often enter the ground while students are there to play.
According to official sources, the SDM had ordered the local authorities to ensure the construction of the school playground’s boundary wall after verifying the ownership paper of the land. But the boundary wall is yet to be constructed.
Jharia Circle Officer (CO), under whom the DAV Sindri Rangamati School area falls, made a spot inspection of the playground and after screening the land’s paper in his report to SDM, asked to allow construction.
DAV Sindri School playground belongs to FCI Sindri, Government of India. The factory has given the land on lease to DAV Schools group.
Reportedly some local people of Sindri opposed the fortification of the playground.
In June 2021, the principal of the school had informed the DC about an encroachment attempt by some local people. Earlier in February, some people had forcibly organized Puja in the ground and played songs on loudspeakers while students were between classes in the school.
