NHRC notice to Bihar over shortage of schools

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that there was an acute shortage of elementary and middle-level schools in Bihar, the National Human Rights Commission Thursday sent notice to the state government.

The NHRC also sought a report within four weeks about the steps taken by the state to overcome the shortage of schools in the state.

"There is acute shortage of middle-level schools in Bihar and the children have to walk miles even for primary education," the NHRC said in a statement, citing a media report.

"There are still 896 inhabited locations in the state wherein elementary education is not available within one kilometre of their home - 2,974 inhabited locations do not have middle schools within three kilometres."

"There are still 2,100 locations which are deprived of education facilities even after more than 65 years of Independence," the statement said.

The NHRC said the report, if true, raises a serious issue of violation of children's Right to Education and, therefore, it has issued notice to the Bihar government, seeking a report within four weeks about the steps taken by the state.

"The (Bihar) chief secretary has been asked to inform about the time frame in which the entitlements as per the Right to Education Act will be fulfilled," the NHRC statement said.

The commission has also sought status of the availability of primary school teachers in the state.