Summary:
If government would have conducted impact assessment or discussed the issue with villagers before closing schools, lesser children would have been affected,” said Anil Pradhan, an RTE activist.Sources said, around 7030 children of the 1169 closed schools have been relocated to nearest schools. However, there is a gap of around 673 children between the number of children in schools at the time of closure and number of students relocated. “Children had to cover hills and rivers to go to the nearby school. Parents are not aware of the transportation facility to be provided by the school to the children. All the children of the village are now out of school,” said Ghasiram Panda, a social activist who visited the village last month.The government closed down several such schools in tribal areas ignoring the order of Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights ( OSCPCR ) to conduct impact assessment in the villages before closing down the school, alleged Right to Education activists.“By closing down the schools, the objective of free and compulsory education to all has been violated..