Garhwa KGBAV under scanner after 74 girls fall ill; complaints of humiliation, poor hygiene surface
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, June 28: A health scare at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya (KGBAV) in Kharoundhi under Bhavnathpur…
Garhwa Deputy Commissioner Pashupatinath Mishra interacts with students during his visit to KGBAV Kharoundhi.
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, June 28: A health scare at the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Awasiya Vidyalaya (KGBAV) in Kharoundhi under Bhavnathpur block of Garhwa district has snowballed into a wider inquiry after dozens of girl students allegedly complained of humiliation, poor hygiene and mistreatment by school staff.
Seventy-four girls reportedly fell ill on Friday and Saturday, triggering protests by parents, who forced open the school’s iron gate and demanded the immediate removal of the existing management.
Parents demand complete overhaul of school administration
Angry parents, most of them women, entered the residential school campus and called for the replacement of the entire team, from the warden to other staff members.
Following the protest, the Garhwa district administration shifted almost the entire school staff, retaining only one member. The action was taken on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Pashupatinath Mishra.
Administration focuses on health and welfare
Deputy Commissioner Mishra and Civil Surgeon Dr John F. Kennedy personally visited the school to assess the situation.
Their immediate priority was to ensure proper medical care for the 74 students who had fallen ill. According to officials, all the affected girls received treatment and their condition improved.
However, the visit also revealed concerns extending beyond the immediate health issue.
Students allege humiliation and poor treatment
During interactions with the district administration, several students allegedly complained of being humiliated over sanitary pad usage and subjected to repeated verbal insults.
Some students also claimed they were made to massage teachers’ legs and asked to clean toilets.
These allegations are yet to be independently verified.
Officials found what they described as a serious breakdown of trust between the students and the school administration.
Concerns over water supply and hygiene
Students also alleged that the campus hand pump remained locked, forcing them to depend on water supplied through overhead tanks. Officials are examining whether water quality may have contributed to the illnesses.
According to sources, the administration is also looking into issues relating to hygiene, student care and overall hostel management.
An insider alleged that staff behaviour towards students had become authoritarian, resulting in a poor academic and emotional environment.
Civil Surgeon points to emotional stress
Responding to a query from The Jharkhand Story Network, Civil Surgeon Dr John F. Kennedy said, “It is less a case of physical illness among the girls. It is more a case of emotional stress and anxiety, coupled with the daily insinuations and insults allegedly meted out to them by the school staff.”
He added, “The condition of many of the girl inmates resembles a form of hysterical congestion, with symptoms appearing when children are subjected to prolonged neglect or apathy.”
Need for regular parent-school interaction
The developments have also highlighted the need for regular interaction between parents and the management of residential schools. Such meetings could provide an opportunity to address grievances before they escalate into a crisis.
The district administration is expected to continue its inquiry into the functioning of the residential school and examine the allegations raised by students and parents.
