Koppal: A government-run residential school for girls in North Karnataka has come under scrutiny for failing to provide basic sanitation facilities. The toilets and bathrooms in the hostel lack doors, raising serious safety and hygiene concerns.

Acting on complaints from students, H. Anjinappa, an official from Samagra Shikshana, inspected the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Betageri on January 16. His report highlighted severe lapses, prompting Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Srishail Biradar to issue a suspension order against head teacher Kasturi Badiger on January 20. However, the order is yet to be enforced.

The school, funded by the Union government, accommodates 120 students from Classes 6 to 8. The hostel’s poor conditions include broken sanitation facilities, lack of mosquito nets on windows, and the use of untreated tubewell water for drinking and cooking. Additionally, essential government-provided items such as coconut oil, notebooks, and tracksuits were reportedly not fully distributed to the students.

The DDPI noted that the hostel grants were not properly documented. The head teacher claimed the records were with the block education office, but her failure to allocate funds effectively has been deemed a violation of Karnataka Civil Services Conduct Rules, 2021.

Authorities are under pressure to implement the suspension and improve living conditions at the hostel, ensuring the students’ safety and well-being.