Munish Sood
Mandi
Thirteen years after its establishment, the Government Primary School at Khwan village in Lataran Panchayat of the remote Chuhar Valley in Mandi district continues to function without electricity, highlighting the lack of basic infrastructure in one of Himachal Pradesh’s most inaccessible regions.
Established in 2013, the school has reportedly been operating without a power connection since its inception. Villagers said that while the government opened the school to improve access to education, little attention has been paid to providing the basic facilities required for a conducive learning environment.
According to residents, the absence of electricity has become a major hurdle in day-to-day teaching. During cloudy weather or poor visibility, classrooms remain dark, disrupting academic activities and affecting the quality of education.
Located in a high-altitude area, Khwan village remains without road connectivity, forcing residents to undertake a steep trek of several kilometres to reach the village. During winter, the area receives heavy snowfall, while cold and wet conditions persist from March to May, making the learning environment even more challenging.
Villagers said teachers are often compelled to light a fire inside classrooms to keep students warm during the harsh winter months. The school currently has only nine students, but they continue to pursue their education under extremely difficult circumstances, with teachers managing both classroom instruction and the children’s safety in freezing conditions.
Residents alleged that despite repeated appeals over the years, the Education Department has failed to address the school’s basic infrastructural needs. They also expressed concern over what they described as continued neglect of education and development in the Chuhar Valley, claiming that issues relating to schools, roads and other essential services have received inadequate attention.
They further alleged that elected representatives have largely confined themselves to electoral politics, while fundamental issues affecting remote villages have remained unresolved.
Villagers also claimed that during the 2022 Assembly elections, local MLA Puran Chand Thakur had visited Khwan village and assured them that road connectivity would be provided. However, they alleged that no progress has been made on the project since then. The MLA’s version could not be obtained despite efforts and will be incorporated as and when received.
The residents have urged the Himachal Pradesh Government and the district administration to immediately provide electricity to the school, prioritise road construction to Khwan village, and ensure that children studying in the remote region are provided with the basic educational facilities necessary for quality learning.
They said access to education, roads and other essential infrastructure should not remain a privilege limited to urban areas, adding that children in remote villages deserve the same opportunities and learning environment as those elsewhere in the state.
