3 thousand education institutions operating illegally in Agra

AGRA: Most of the private schools and colleges operating in rural parts of Agra, estimated to be around 3,000, are running in illegal buildings as their infrastructure plans have not been approved by the zila panchayat (district council), exposing the students to several health hazards and denting the state exchequer.
The district councils generate a good income by approving infrastructural plans of the institutions, which in turn, could be used for development purposes.
Due to the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the council, most of the institutions in the rural areas do not have basic facilities for students including toilets, playgrounds and suitable classrooms.
According to sources, hundreds of schools and colleges in rural areas are operating in residential premises, small houses, under the tin shades and unplanned spaces.
District councils in Uttar Pradesh approve building map of schools and colleges which come under their area. However, in Agra, the district administration and the council seem to have turned a blind eye to it.
“Institutions cannot be blamed for this. It is the district council which is not doing its work,” a senior secondary school owner in Fatehabad block said.
When contacted, district council chief officer Suresh Yadav told TOI: “It is true that educational institutions operating in areas under panchayat are not approved by the council. In Agra, the file regarding this is pending with the office of the divisional commissioner. Administrative procedures take time in completion. We will soon conduct a detailed survey of educational institutions with a focus on their infrastructure.”