NMMC`s state-of-the-art school to set example

Date of Publishing in Dainik Jagran Cityplus: 2011-06-24 00:00:00.0

Revenue model needs to be worked out
At a time when many people are concerned about the rising cost of education in the city, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has passed a resolution to develop a state-of-the-art school of international standards at a cost of Rs 25 crore at Sector 11, Koper Khairane. This school will be built for the poor children.
Gesu Khan, senior executive engineer, education department informed, "The school has been designed by a consultant 'The Firm'. As per the new design, the proposed school building will have ground plus five floors. We have completed the first phase work that included development of ground plus two floors. And the third floor is under development."
The school will have amenities like architectural roofing, two lifts, CCTV cameras, air condition, fire safety measures, landscaping, garden, boundary wall, etc.
An NMMC official on condition of anonymity said, "Yet, no decision has been made on how the expenditure will be borne. We are also expecting to generate revenue from the usage of auditorium."
"It is a good step as it would raise the level of education and give our children world class education. We are happy that the NMMC has taken this move," said Santosh Sawant, a resident of the area.
"We hope that this facility comes into being soon so that our children get benefited," said Radha Sharma, another resident.

Twisting Present Scenario
"We study in an NMMC school which is in a bad condition as there is no proper drinking water in our school and there is a lack of sanitation as well in the toilets which are very small. So, we are very happy with this development and want the authorities to make our school also better," said Salim Khan, who studies at NMMC-run Urdu school in Khairane.
"The toilet is very small and unhygienic in our school. We hardly use this toilet during recess as it is always full. We also do not drink water as there is only one glass available and the water is
not properly filtered. My ammi has also asked me to drink water from our house which is boiled," said Salma Sayeed, another student of the same school.
Drinking unfiltered water during monsoons can lead to many diseases. An NMMC official on condition of anonymity said, "We clean water tanks at regular intervals. Due to lack of space, this sort of arrangement has been done for the toilets."
Sector 7 and Sector 19 Koper Khairane-based NMMC-run schools do not have a single fire extinguisher in the school. These hazardous conditions in the NMMC-run schools have raised many eyebrows and many residents feel the corporation should also look into these matters and maintain the schools properly.

—Jaspal Singh Naol