Villagers and students in the border village of 1KJD in Khajuwala, Bikaner district, padlocked the main gate of the government upper primary school and launched an indefinite sit-in. Their anger stems from a simple but serious problem: after the school's old building was pulled down, classes are now being squeezed into just two rooms, leaving children with barely any space to study.
Hundreds of students, only two rooms
Villagers say the two rooms currently available are nowhere near enough for the number of children enrolled at the school. The old structure was demolished, but construction of a replacement building never began. As a result, students from different classes are being packed into the same cramped space. Residents say the overcrowding makes it difficult for children to even sit properly, let alone for teachers to conduct regular lessons, and it is directly hurting day-to-day teaching.
Repeated complaints, no action
According to villagers, this is not a new grievance. They say they have approached education department officials multiple times over the building shortage and formally raised the issue, yet no approval for a new building has come through and no concrete construction work has started. After months of what they describe as inaction, villagers say they were left with no option but to lock the gate and sit in protest. Villagers and students at the sit-in have demanded that at least four new rooms be built at the school so that every class can have its own space and children can study in a proper academic environment. They have made it clear that the padlock will stay on and the protest will continue until their demand is met.
Threat of hunger strike if demand ignored
The protesting villagers have warned the administration and the education department that if there is no positive move on constructing the school building soon, the agitation will be intensified. If needed, villagers and students say they are prepared to go on a hunger strike as well. They have appealed to the administration to provide the school with an adequate building at the earliest, keeping the children's future in mind, so that no student's education is held back for lack of space in the days ahead.
