Karnataka: Any school is cool

Students from flood-ravaged Kodagu can get enrolled anywhere in the state

The state government has issued a circular to all schools across the state to admit children from flood-battered Kodagu to admit them without demanding any certificates.

The commissioner of state department of public instructions said that students studying in schools, which have been affected by the floods, can get themselves admitted to any school of their choice. The department has also directed authorities concerned not to demand documents or certificates while admitting them to schools.

“Several schools, both government and private, have been destroyed in floods. It might take some time before those schools are repaired. They can get enrolled at nearby schools or anywhere across the state. We have strictly instructed to admit those children without demanding any documents,” said, a senior official.

According to the circular, the schools should not ask for birth certificate or Aadhaar. The official added, “This is just to ensure that those children who are affected in the floods should not be dropped out just because there are no schools to go in the vicinity. There are parents who are willing to leave their kids at residential schools run by the state government in other districts. Even there admission should be given immediately.”

The rains may have receded, but nobody is sure when the rain-ravaged schools will be rebuilt or reopened. “We are gathering data of the schools affected by the floods. Some schools need to be rebuilt from the scratch and that might take at least a year. In such cases, we have already advised parents to admit kids to nearby schools or anywhere in the state,” another official said. Currently, the department has identified nine government primary schools (580 students) which were totally destroyed. Nearly 75 government schools need minor repairs.

Schools to reopen

Commissioner for Public Instructions PC Jaffer has released Rs 1.36 lakh from Students Welfare Fund to distribute crayons, notebooks and other stationary materials for children in relief camps.

Meanwhile, the state government has decided to re-open all schools and colleges except 61 schools in highly-affected areas from August 23 itself. Some classes are conducted in relief camps for children as well.


Urgent measures

• Gas geysers and Gas cylinders are being supplied to relief centres to provide hot water to victims.
  
• Action has been initiated to distribute 5000 school books.
  
• Duplicate copies of documents will be issued to those who have lost all their property documents due to heavy rainfall