Government school gets new washrooms, kitchen, courtesy former alumnus

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 26

A US-based NRI has changed the picture of Government Primary Smart School, Village Virk, as he has got nine washrooms and one modular kitchen built in the school.

Gurmail Singh, a native of the same village and former student of the school, has been helping the school by donating various items which students need the most.

So far, nearly 254 students of the primary classes of the school, situated in Phillaur tehsil, used to share only two washrooms — one each for girls and boys. As per information, the existing washrooms were in a deplorable state and students mostly preferred not to use them. However, with the help of the NRI, the school now has nine washrooms, four each for girls and boys and one for five staff members of the school.

The school was established in 1976 and the building was wearing out with time. The poor condition of the school was also taking a toll on the results of school and its strength was decreasing rapidly. Therefore, the NRI kept on providing funds to the school for its development. He had earlier donated a 20-kW generator for the school, for which he also provides 200 litre fuel every month.

During the inauguration of the washrooms and the kitchen, school principal Surinder Pal said: “Gurmail and his family are in contact with the school for the past few years. Being the alumnus of the school, he considers it his responsibility to provide better atmosphere to students at the school. During extreme weather conditions, students used to face difficulties, but ever since the NRI has come in contact, the scenario has changed.”

While Gurmail donated Rs30 lakh for the construction of the new washrooms and kitchen, the members of ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Young Sports and Lok Bhalai Club’, a village-based social welfare club, lent support in the construction work. Within four months, all construction work was completed.

Ashok Bangar, chairman of the school management committee, appealed to all NRIs to donate more for the development of schools in villages. Laadi Basra, of the welfare club, has promised to install one LED TV at the school.