RAYAGADA,Safe drinking water supply,remained in slogaon at most of the schools in interior areas of Rayagada district.As per the govt norms,if there is no piped water supply to a school,a bore well should be sunk.But there is clear violation of the norms in several schools.the glaring instance at primery school at Kichikhala village,with around 31 students,under Kashipur block in the district.As such the village situates in a remote area,added to no water supply is there and the students are mostly depend on the contaminated water of a nullah,adjacant to the school premises.As a result of which the kids,including girls after having their MDM,seen washing their plates at the nullah.The school authorities said,we fetch was from a well near the school for cooking,but no water available for wash of the utencils.Obviously,the students wash their plates at the nullah.However,Dhala majhi,a local gurdian of a student,said,our kids take drinking water from our homes.Still at the time of need,they drank water of the nullah.When asked,Additional block education officer Kularanjan sahu admittedthat scarcity of safe drinking water prevails in several schools in the block and the matter was discussed elaboratedly at the panchayat samiti meeting held on 18/1/2025.Addl BDO of the block,Padmini kanhar expressed her ignorance,but assured to solve the problem soon.Incidently Kashipur block known as prone to diarrhoea,malaria,gestroentriets and often hit the lime light for number of deaths.
