A severe dispute has emerged at the Eklavya Adarsh Residential School located in Shampur under the Makdi block of Kondagaon district, drawing massive anger from students, parents, and staff members. The institution's principal faces grave allegations involving the installation of cameras in hostel bathrooms, discriminatory remarks against tribal students, and substandard living conditions. Distressed by these circumstances, students accompanied by their families and teachers gathered at the district collectorate during late-night hours to demand administrative intervention.
Late-Night Demonstrations and Shutdown Call
Agitating students and guardians staged a sit-in across the collectorate premises until late at night, voicing strong dissent against the school administration. The protesting crowd issued a 48-hour deadline to officials, warning that failure to initiate immediate action against the principal within this window would lead to a complete Kondagaon shutdown. The demonstrators asserted that the privacy, security, and well-being of residential pupils had been fundamentally compromised.
Contaminated Food and Alleged Discriminatory Remarks
During the agitation, a student named Shyam recounted the harsh realities inside the hostel mess. Shyam stated that during an encounter after a meeting, the principal questioned what difference it made if tribal children consumed expired food. The student further highlighted that insects are frequently discovered inside the served food and unhusked paddy grains remain inside poha. Furthermore, when the children sought access to computers for their education, they were met with direct intimidation instead of academic resources.
Teacher Alleges Mental Harassment and Sudden Sacking
Teacher Priyanka Parihar raised serious complaints against the principal and wardens, citing sustained psychological harassment and arbitrary administrative actions. She explained that while she was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jagdalpur, she was improperly discharged from duty without even formal rejoining. Upon submitting her medical certificates, the authorities refused to acknowledge receipt and withheld her salary, subsequently calling four female constables late at night to discard her belongings from the campus.
Coerced Signatures on Inflated Invoices
Priyanka Parihar expanded on the financial irregularities, asserting that the administration regularly manufactures fake bills worth lakhs of rupees in the name of student welfare. According to her, teachers are subjected to persistent threats referencing the Assistant Commissioner and the Collector to force signatures on falsified paperwork. She pointed out that resisting these illicit instructions invited explicit threats regarding the termination of her job and career, accompanied by physical and mental harassment for advocating student welfare.
