Chennai: For 13-year-old Anjali (name changed), using a toilet in her school is an embarrassing experience. It is a breach of privacy for many students like Anjali, at Jaigopal Garodia Government Higher Secondary School who had been suffering in silence for the past two years.
Reason: Absence of a compound wall due to which the school offers open access to miscreants and anti-social elements.
The wall had collapsed during the December 2015 floods and had it been rebuilt since then. Now, much to the relief to the students, work is all set to commence on the wall with funds being allocated to PWD. The Alandur MLA, TM Anbarasan told DC that he has allocated Rs 10 lakh to the PWD to renovate the school.
Since the toilet is located close to the school's compound wall, anti-social elements often tease girls who use the restroom. "It is very hard to pass through to the restroom. It is due to this that many girls like me do not relieve ourselves the whole day," Anjali said, in a hesitant tone.
"I am happy that they are planning to renovate the school premises. We had to compromise on the basic rights for the past one-and-half years. I hope they would complete the work soon," said another student, wishing not to be named.
Piles of liquor bottles and cigarette buds were found strewn all over the school at a late evening hour, setting a bad example to the teenager student community. The school caters to the students from class six to class 12.
Narrating the ordeal of the students, Parent Teachers Association President, Jamuna Rani said, "Miscreants also break the pipes and water tanks. Such acts continue, even after the police personnel had arrested four miscreants a year ago."
"We keep the restrooms locked and give the key to those students who want to use. A miscreant had attempted to stab my husband for doing so," Jamuna Rani added.
