Guttal
The sit-in protest staged by parents and students of Neralagi village near Guttal demanding the demolition of dilapidated classrooms and construction of new school buildings was withdrawn after assurances from the district administration.
The agitation had been ongoing for three days in front of the government primary school, where parents expressed concern over the unsafe condition of school infrastructure. The protestors urged authorities to immediately demolish the weak structures and construct new classrooms to ensure student safety.
District Collector Dr. Vijayamahantesh Danammanavar visited the protest site and held discussions with the agitating parents and villagers. He appreciated the peaceful manner in which the protest was conducted and assured them that their concerns had been taken seriously.
The Collector said that a detailed inspection of the school buildings would be conducted, and recommendations would be made for repair or demolition of structurally unsafe classrooms. He added that temporary repairs would be taken up using available taluk panchayat funds, while new construction would follow due government procedures.
He further assured that the state government is focused on improving school infrastructure and developing better facilities under initiatives such as Karnataka Public Schools. He directed officials to take necessary steps to ensure the academic progress and safety of students.
Following these assurances, the villagers decided to withdraw their protest.
Later, the Collector inspected the school premises and instructed engineers and officials to assess the condition of classrooms, demolish unsafe structures, and prepare proposals for new buildings.
Senior district and education officials, including the Zilla Panchayat CEO, Taluk Panchayat officials, education department officers, and police personnel, were present during the visit and discussions.