No Electricity at KGBV Kokernag Leaves Students in Distress

By Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: Despite government initiatives and substantial funds allocated under various education schemes, basic facilities remain elusive at several Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) boarding schools in Anantnag district. A striking example of this neglect is the KGBV school in Dandipora, Kokernag, where students are struggling without electricity and other essential provisions.

The KGBV Dandipora, a girls’ boarding middle school established in 2009, was set up under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to provide quality education to girls from marginalized communities — including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities, and below-poverty-line families in Educationally Backward Blocks. The school, previously operating from a private building, was shifted to a newly constructed three-storey facility in 2023.

Currently, 55 students up to class 8 are enrolled in the school, with six staff members, including a warden, posted there. However, the school lacks a night watchman and electricity connection, which has severely disrupted its functioning as a residential institution. With no power supply, students are forced to return to their homes rather than reside in the hostel as intended.

Speaking to Arising State, ZEO Vailoo, Bashir Sahil, acknowledged the issues. “I have already informed higher authorities about the lack of electricity and the vacant posts at the school. I have also contacted the PDD department, and we are hopeful that both concerns will be resolved within a month,” he said.

The ongoing neglect not only undermines the purpose of the KGBV scheme but also puts the safety and education of young girls at risk. Despite the government’s stated commitment to empowering girls through education, the ground realities tell a different story.