Man-Made Tragedy Strikes Rajasthan School

Swift Summary:

• Tragedy in Rajasthan: A goverment school building collapse claimed the lives of seven children, prompting widespread condemnation.
• AIDSO Reaction: The All India Democratic students Organisation (AIDSO) blamed the Rajasthan government for negligence and poor maintenance of public education infrastructure, calling it a man-made disaster.
• Infrastructure Concerns: AIDSO highlighted the nationwide issue of deteriorating government schools suffering from inadequate funding and upkeep, labeling them “death traps.”
• Criticism of Central Government Response: The organisation criticized advisories asking schools to prepare for emergencies instead of addressing root causes like systemic underfunding and flawed policies.
• Policy Critique: AIDSO condemned the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for promoting privatization and corporatization in education sectors.
• Demands Issued:

– Impartial judicial inquiry into the collapse tragedy.
– immediate inspection and repair of unsafe school buildings across India.
– Increased funding for public school infrastructure.
– Withdrawal of NEP 2020 with a call for new pro-democratic educational policies.- Ending any victim-blaming associated with such incidents.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The tragic collapse in Rajasthan underscores critical concerns about public infrastructure maintenance, particularly within India’s government schooling system-a sector pivotal to equitable access to education. AIDSO’s critique raises valid points about systemic underfunding that has led many institutions toward disrepair, placing students’ safety at risk. This resonates with broader calls to prioritize investment in essential social services like public education.

The condemnation directed at both state and central governments reflects frustration over reactive rather than preventive strategies when crises occur-highlighted by advisory measures focusing on emergency preparedness rather than tackling structural issues directly. While questioning NEP 2020’s impact may align with apprehensions over privatization risks, calls for reevaluation must coexist with recognition that policy fixes alone cannot address longstanding neglect.

An impartial inquiry as demanded could serve as a tool not just for accountability but also as an occasion to reassess how resource allocation disproportionately affects marginalized communities relying on free public education systems across India.

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