OKARA: More than 300 boys and girls of the village 31/2-R, Sachanwala, go for primary school education to 32/2R and 38/2R villages, three to four kilometres from Sachanwala, as the village has no primary school.

The 31/2-R village is situated on Okara-Faisalabad Road and is one of seven Kalyana estate villages. In the second decade of the 1900s, the British government established the estate for agricultural purpose and also established schools at the estate villages 27/2R, 28/2R, 28-A/2R, 29/2R, 30/2R and 34/2R (except 31/2R). These schools have been elevated to middle and secondary school levels whereas Sachanwala is still struggling to get a primary school.

In 2015, retired teacher Chaudhry Irshad Masih, a resident of the village and former general councillor, started writing applications to the government functionaries for the establishment of schools in the village. In 2016, the government allocated 22 kanals and 10 marlas for a girls’ and boys’ school which was mutated in the revenue record and transferred to the education department.

Govt allocated land but no funds for school building

Irshad Masih is still trying to get both schools constructed even though he has got done compulsory steps, such as the passage of the requisite PC-I, a feasibility report, a building plan and a rough cost estimate from the government department.

In May 2017, the additional deputy commissioner sent a proposal for with an estimated cost of Rs14.817 million for the establishment of the schools at Chak 31/2-R to the school education department secretary citing the reference of a chief minister directive DS(W)CMO /16/AA-143/0125406, dated Dec 27, 2016.

Then MNA Chaudhry Nadeem Abbas Rubera also recommended the proposal but the office of the provincial secretary did not approve the request. Five years have passed since the request was sent to the highest education office.

Irshad Masih says he sent a complaint to the prime minister’s citizens’ portal but to no avail.

Local residents have demanded that the offices of the prime minister, the chief minister and the education minister take notice of the situation as the residents of the village are suffering a lot due to the absence of primary schools.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2021