CHIKKAMAGALURU, 14 FEB

Students of a government residential school in NR Pura taluk of Chikkamagaluru district have been studying under solar street lamps due to the lack of electricity for the last three months. Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Welfare Department Girls' Residential School at Kaimara has come under scrutiny after a video depicting the ordeal went viral, prompting residents to express their dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the situation.

With SSLC and second PUC exams looming next month, parents are anxious about their children's ability to study if power cuts continue due to load-shedding measures. This has also raised concerns about the safety of the girls, and questions have been raised about accountability in the event of any issues arising.

The villagers are urging the government to install Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems in the school, which accommodates over 65 girls. The hostel staff had submitted requests for resolution.

Somasekhar, Deputy Director of the Backward Classes Welfare Department, said the hostel will get an uninterrupted power supply within a month once it is connected to urban power lines. “The NR Pura Post Matric Girls' Hostel is a newly constructed facility. While the hostel currently has access to rural electric lines, efforts are underway to connect it to urban power lines. Tenders have been called and it is expected to be finalised within a month. In the interim, a UPS battery has been provided to the dormitory, offering backup power for 4-5 hours. Due to recent prolonged power outages, the battery was not fully charged, forcing students to rely on the street lamp for around half an hour before electricity was restored and the battery recharged.”