Himachal school girls hold rare protest over lack of teachers in remote Bharmour, MLA Janak Raj asks govt to ‘wake up’

Mahinder Patyal
Bharmour:
A group of schoolchildren in Himachal Pradesh’s remote Bharmour region staged a rare and emotional protest, holding placards and raising slogans to demand urgent teacher appointments in their government school. The protest was led by young girls and has triggered strong political reactions.

The students gathered outside their school premises with handwritten posters, urging the government to fill vacant teaching posts. The lack of teachers has reportedly disrupted classes for months, forcing students to take matters into their own hands. In a region already struggling with access to basic educational facilities, today’s scenes have underscored the gravity of the situation.

Local MLA Dr Janak Raj expresses deep anguish

Reacting sharply to the incident, local MLA Dr Janak Raj of the BJP expressed deep anguish and criticised the ruling Congress government for failing to uphold its responsibility towards children’s education.

“It is heartbreaking to see innocent students who should be in classrooms standing on roads, pleading for their right to education. This protest is a direct result of the Congress government’s negligence,” Dr Raj said in a statement.

He emphasised that Bharmour, a tribal and remote area, has always faced educational challenges and the current shortage of teachers has only worsened post-COVID. “I have repeatedly raised these concerns in the Assembly, asking for timely recruitment of teachers, better school infrastructure and focused attention on education in backward areas. But the government’s priorities clearly lie elsewhere,” he alleged.

Dr Janak Raj alleged that the Congress government was more invested in political maneuvering than in strengthening the state’s education system. “While they chase political headlines, our children are losing their future. This isn’t just administrative failure but a betrayal of trust,” he said.

He also pointed out that such teacher shortage is being reported regularly from various parts of Himachal and if the government does not act immediately, student protests may become a wider movement.