MEERUT: Over 120 students and teachers of Government Junior High School in Tanda village of Baghpat district go out in open to relieve themselves even as authorities have built a model toilet at a cost of Rs nine lakh. When asked, the students said that they were not allowed to use the toilet. Village head only showcases the toilet as an achievement, but does not allow it to be used. Priyanka Sharma , a teacher at the school, said: “Despite having a model toilet in the primary section of the school here, girls have to go out in open to relieve. It speaks volume about the system. “Our repeated requests only helped us briefly when Rs 35,000 was sanctioned for the new toilet in our school.“But, when the authorities got to know about the model toilet in primary section, they withdrew the facility saying that we already had a toilet for use.”Since, eve teasing is rampant in the area and the miscreants often hide themselves within the ruins, teachers have to accompany the girls.However, the village head said: “Since whitewash has not been done, because of which completion report could not be presented to the administration, I cannot allow the toilet to be used.”Students also felt harassed. “We have to go towards the ruins, which is certainly not safe for us or the other way out is nearby fields but also there is a danger of snakes and other wild animals. There was a time when these things were natural to us because there was no alternative, but when we have option even then we are not given that facility. This hurts us,” one of them said.When contacted, block education officer, Vinod Verma , said: “Eve-teasing thing is exaggerated. Nothing of that kind takes place. But, yes, there is a problem and we will look into it and will try to make it operational within a week now.

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