Meer Irfan
The Government Primary School in Beebrada, located in the Yaripora belt of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, has been operating under dire conditions for years.
The school, which was established in 1984, originally functioned in a rented mud building. Over time, the building became unsafe and was dismantled by its owners.
For the past two years, the school has been forced to operate under the open sky.
A student shared their plight with The Kashmiriyat, saying, “I’ve been studying outside for years. We hope we finally get a proper building soon.”
The lack of basic facilities has left both students and teachers struggling. “Without a toilet, the students and teachers both have to rely on neighbors for access to washrooms,” a parent explained.
Inhabitants of Beebrada have long raised concerns about the school’s dire condition. Despite filing grievances with the office of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) two years ago, which directed the concerned Tehsildar to resolve the issue swiftly, the situation remains unchanged.
The Tehsildar did visit the village twice and identified a plot of state land for the construction of a new school building.
However, the matter stalled due to resistance from some locals, leading to the closure of the grievance without any substantial resolution.
“We request the current government to seriously address this matter and ensure that the future of our children is secured,” appealed the residents of Beebrada.
In response, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Kulgam, Iqbal Hussain, assured that he would take up the issue with higher authorities for immediate action on the construction of the school building.