List of grievances up, demanding redress
Dimapur, Oct. 22 (EMN): Parents of students of Sainik School at Punglwa in Peren district have complained of a number of issues in the establishment that they say need to be addressed. The issues include what has been stated to be bullying and ‘torture’ of junior cadets by senior cadets, according to the parents. Many cadets are undergoing medical treatments in various hospitals, the parents have stated.
The Parents Association of Sainik School issued a copy of a press release to the media on Sunday. The problems the parents listed out included work on infrastructure in the school, game facilities, and ‘excessive liberty’ to senior students which the parents said ‘results in exploitation of junior cadets to its maximum.’
The parents association informed in the press release that it conducted a general meeting in Kohima town on Oct. 14.
‘The members expressed some concerns that affect the growth of the cadets and the school. After thorough deliberations, the association put forth some suggestions and observations in the interest of the cadets and welfare of the school,’ the association stated.
Senior bullies
A matter of concern that the parents mentioned was that of senior cadets who the parents accused of ‘exploiting’ the juniors. According to the press release, the establishment is said to have given ‘excessive authority’ to the senior cadets.
“The school authority on giving excessive liberty to the senior cadets, results in exploitation of junior cadets to its maximum. There are cases of ragging and corporal punishment meted out to the juniors by the senior cadets for last many years,” the press release stated.
“Children got admitted to the school after qualifying for mental, oral, medical and physical fitness prescribed by the school, whereas, the level of mental and physical torture by some senior cadets is a thing to worry. Many cadets are undergoing medical treatments in various hospitals. It went unnoticed and unreported due to callous attitude of the school authority.”
Repair and renovation problems
Listing out its grievances, the parents said that the authority of the establishment started repair and renovation works for hostels since the beginning of the academic session 2017-18. The association informed to have approached the authority and requested them to ensure early completion of the works. To this, the authority assured to complete within 15 days, the press release stated.
“However, after lapse of several months, the work is pending completion and the work progress is in a very slow pace. The cadets are made to suffer without proper rooms and basic facilities for almost a year.”
The association has requested the contractor in concern and the authority to speed up the work and “provide proper atmosphere to the cadets.”
Tailor with poor aim with machine
The parents also complained about a ‘random’ tailor in the school. The parents have noted that the “tailor master of the school is performing the duty in a very random manner.”
“It has been reported that, uniforms are not stitched proportionately causing inconvenience to the cadets. The authority must monitor and streamline the performance of the tailor master and provide proper uniform as per the required size of the cadets.”
Sports
The parents listed games and sports facilities ‘for all round developments of an individual.’ The facilities must be ensured at all cost, the association stated.
“It is learnt that, there is no indoor stadium facility in the school and thereby creating inconveniences to the cadets.”
Other matters the parents listed included what was stated to be lack of a warden quarter. The parents observed that ‘due to absence of proper warden quarter attached to the hostels, there had been unwanted cases of misbehaviour by some indiscipline cadets.’ The association has requested the authority to look into the matter and initiate some remedial measures.
Likewise, the parents stated, due to lack of proper fencing along the school’s boundary, ‘many unwanted elements are smuggled’ into the school.
“The state government must sincerely look into the progress and development of the school. However, it has been observed that the government particularly the department of school education has not been able to cater the basic needs of the school as contained in the memorandum / agreement,” the association stated. The parents have demanded that the government provide the necessary infrastructure as required by the school.
Transparency in ‘accounting’
Another issue that the parents noted was questions of transparency “in relation to the accounts of the cadets.”
The authority must maintain “transparency in relation to the accounts of the cadets. The authority should not deny the rights of the parents and cadets to obtain their annual account statement, rather provide proper statements as required by the parents,” the parents stated in demanded.
