The wall of the under-construction building was found to wobble when some members pushed against it. When more force was exerted the bricks fell off easily, as though there were no adhesive materials between them
TFM Report
Amid the Manipur government’s effort to improve the education sector under the “School Fagathansi Mission” (Mission to improve schools), evidence of not maintaining quality in construction of school buildings have come to light.
A team of Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF) on Wednesday inspected the Nilapadma Higher Secondary School under the Sekmai Assembly Constituency. The wall of the under-construction building was found to wobble when some members pushed against it. When more force was exerted the bricks fell off easily, as though there were no adhesive materials between them.
MSF has demanded stringent action against the contractor under whom the building was constructed.
MSF general secretary Hijam Roshan said that as part of the student body’s “Lairik Ningthina Tamshi Campaign” (Campaign to educate properly) a team of its members went to inspect the school on Tuesday. The team found poor infrastructure and the buildings which were affected by the previous earthquakes were not looked into, he added.
The team visited the school again on Wednesday for detailed inspection. Two buildings, meant for a classroom and a practical room, were inspected. But one of the buildings was found to be not maintaining quality and it broke down easily, he added.
According to the principal of the school, the construction of the building started in 2015-16 but was left unfinished in 2019. He also said that he cannot recall the contractor who built it.
Maintaining that the student body takes the matter very seriously, Roshan said that untoward incidents might have happened if students were to attend the building. He demanded that the contractor should clarify to the people.
He also urged the government to focus equally in all the schools under the School Fagathansi Mission. By focusing on only a few schools, the mission won’t be successful, he asserted.