The Rajasthan government has suspended Bharat Joshi, principal of the Government Seth Anandilal Poddar School for the Hearing and Speech Impaired in Jaipur, following student protests. This decision comes in response to allegations of mismanagement at the school. A departmental inquiry has been ordered to investigate these claims further.
The developments come amid mounting political pressure, with senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot on Wednesday extending support to the protesting students and demanding immediate government intervention. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited the school and met the protesting students to hear their grievances. Congress leader Sachin Pilot also criticised the state government, saying the Government Seth Anandilal Poddar School, once known for quality education, is now suffering from administrative neglect.
Gehlot urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to constitute a special committee to resolve all issues at the earliest so that the students’ education is not affected. Recalling his long association with the education of hearing and speech-impaired children, Gehlot said that nearly 45 years ago, after being elected as an MP from Jodhpur, he had helped establish the Gandhi School for the Hearing and Speech Impaired, which has since grown into a college.
Describing the situation as unfortunate, he said it was distressing that differently-abled children had to protest on the streets to make the government hear their concerns. Based on that experience, he said institutions serving differently-abled students deserve special attention and better infrastructure.
