NHRC issues notice to Bihar government over shortage of schools

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to Bihar government over alleged acute shortage of schools in the state.

The NHRC has issued notice to the Government of Bihar, through its Chief Secretary, calling for a report within four weeks about the steps taken by the state administration to fulfill the shortage of schools in the state, According to an NHRC statement released on Thursday.

He has also been asked to inform about the time-frame in which the entitlements as per the Right to Education Act will be fulfilled. The Commission has also sought status of availability of Primary School teachers in the state, the statement said.

The notice was issued after the Commission took suo motu cognisance of a media report that there was acute shortage of middle-level schools in Bihar and the children have to walk miles for primary education.

Quoting a Government survey, the report says that there were still 896 inhabited locations where elementary education was not available within a kilometre.

2,974 inhabited locations do not have middle schools within three kilometres. There were still 2,100 locations which were deprived of education facilities even after more than 65 years of independence.
The Commission has observed that the contents of press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of Right to Education of children.