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Port Blair, Jan. 9: “We need our playground back. Ground is our pride … we demand for our rights…” The words echoed in the entire Middle Point right from 6.00 in the morning. The entire city was stunned and the Andaman Administration puzzled.

The voices were of the students of the first school in the islands, ‘Boys Senior Secondary School’, who demanded for their basic rights as students. Playground, safe drinking water, proper toilets, canteen facilities, repair of school building, re-wiring of electrical fittings etc.

It is not that the school never had this. Being the first ever school in the islands, this school had produced many elite personalities, who make their presence felt in the society. Unfortunate it is that this school is struggling to maintain its existence today. And the reason, ‘Tagore Govt. College of Education’, a govt. institution which manipulated and encroached 90% of the school property. The TGCE led by Shri J.D. Singh as Principal has been instrumental in converting the entire premises of the school into a ‘Concrete Jungle’.

The situation today is such that there is a compound wall and a huge gate that acts as a border, restricting students of this school to even enter TGCE area. Students today do not have a playground, a hall for cultural activities. They cannot have morning prayers and the school assembly is confined to the dilapidated balcony.

Boys School Alumni has been protesting against this for years but their voices fell in deaf ears. It was mere assurances which never materialised. Not able to bear the torture, it was the students in uniform who took to the streets, demonstrating the students’ power to the Andaman Administration. The strike was supported by the lone Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, who himself is battling with the Administration.

It was at around 12.00 noon, when the Director of Education, Shri R. Devdas accompanied with his assistants had to come running with a letter in hand. The letter signed by the Director himself agreed to look into the demands of the students. The letter mentioned:

“This is in response to the demands raised by the students & parents /PTA. They have demanded the following and accordingly, it was discussed with the Pr. Secretary (Education) and Chief Secretary today at 10.30 AM, the following considerations have been made in this regard to various demands put forward.

Access to canteen: in this regard the Principal TGCE, has been instructed by the Pr. Secretary (Edu.) to make open the closed gate in between the Boys Sr. S. School and GDMS School which will be complied with immediate effect.

Play Ground:  The Commr-cum-Secy. (Edu.) has already instructed the APWD to remove the temporary structures and to develop the area as Play Ground.

Multipurpose Hall:  The demand has been well taken and since the multipurpose hall for TGCE has already been completed, a decision in this regard is under active considerations of the Administration as to providing a Hall to GDMS/Boys SSS at the earliest.

Remaining other demands like Parking shed, Drinking water & Toilet facilities have already been considered and necessary steps will be initiated with APWD and will be completed soon.

The above decision may kindly be communicated with the PTA/Students to resolve the issue immediately”.

Following the response, the strike though ended yet it was not able to convince the youngsters as they have been used to the politics in the A&N Administration.

“We were told that a new multipurpose hall is being constructed in the complex, which will be given to us. The Chief Secretary, Shakti Sinha ji had also visited the spot when we agitated last year. It came as a shock to us when recently the Lt. Governor inaugurated the hall with the signboard ‘Tagore Govt. College of Education’. Is this justice? How can we believe that our demands will be fulfilled”, said an agitated student.