Jaipur, Sep 2 (IANS) Work on a new building for the Government Primary School in Rampura-Kanwarpura village, under the Bagru Assembly constituency in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district, began on Wednesday after the administration demolished the school’s dilapidated structure using a bulldozer.
The school is the same site that a team from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had visited on August 21 to inspect its condition.
The team was allegedly prevented from entering the village by residents and was attacked, with CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka among those allegedly assaulted.
The team was subsequently forced to leave the area.
Following the confrontation between the CJP team and villagers, the state government approved the construction of a new school building to replace the deteriorating structure.
A total of Rs 18 lakh has been sanctioned for the project, comprising Rs 12 lakh from the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) and Rs 6 lakh from the MLA Local Area Development Fund.
The old building, constructed in 1999, had reportedly fallen into disrepair because of prolonged neglect and inadequate maintenance.
The school was subsequently closed to children, with classes shifted to an alternative location.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka also shared a video highlighting the condition of the school.
He said the facility in Rampura was the same school that had previously been operating from a buffalo shed and welcomed the commencement of construction work at the site.
Referring to the August 21 incident, Ranka alleged that stones were thrown at the CJP team, women accompanying the team were assaulted, and vehicle windows were smashed.
“Once a good school is built for our children, it will all be worth it,” Ranka said.
The commencement of construction work reportedly brought relief and happiness among residents.
Villagers welcomed the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Rajasthan government’s decision to replace the dilapidated structure with a new school building.
Residents said the controversy surrounding the school had been unnecessary and that the peaceful atmosphere of the village had been disrupted by the actions of a few individuals.
They stressed that a school is a place of learning and should not become a subject of political conflict.
Villagers expressed hope that once construction is completed, children will be able to study in a safer and better-equipped environment.
On August 21, a confrontation broke out between villagers and a CJP team that had arrived in Rampura-Kanwarpura to assess the condition of the Government Primary School.
According to reports, an argument between the two sides escalated into a physical altercation.
The CJP alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party workers attacked its members, while villagers opposing what they described as political interference, said that they would take responsibility for the school’s repair.
The CJP claimed that five of its workers were seriously injured, while seven others sustained injuries in the incident.
Following the confrontation, villagers filed a complaint at Shivdaspura police station against Ashutosh Ranka and his aides.
CJP members, including Rekha and Salman, subsequently filed a counter-complaint alleging assault by the villagers.
The demolition of the old structure and the start of construction now mark a new phase for the school, following weeks of controversy surrounding its condition and the August 21 confrontation.
–IANS
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