Bagalkot: A shocking photograph from a government primary school in Alabal village, Jamkhandi taluk, has gone viral, showing children washing mid-day meal plates using water from a pipe beside an open drain. The image has triggered widespread anger across Karnataka, highlighting serious lapses in hygiene and child safety in rural schools.
The photo, shared on social media by Shivalinga Ninganur, quickly drew public attention, with many users criticizing the lack of basic sanitation and clean drinking water facilities. Experts and parents warned that exposure to sewage water could lead to severe infections and long-term health issues for the children.
Jamalhandi Block Education Officer Ashok K Basan confirmed the negligence, saying, “Negligence of the headmaster of the school has been found. We have already written to the Gram Panchayat to fix the open drain.” Authorities have stated that the lack of proper hand-washing stations and safe drinking water contributed to the unsafe situation.
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has taken cognisance of the matter and registered a formal complaint. Public outrage has also targeted the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) and teachers, questioning how children can maintain hygiene when schools fail to provide basic infrastructure.
The incident has reignited debates over the state of government schools, with critics arguing that despite repeated initiatives and schemes, rural students continue to face unsafe and unhygienic learning environments. Citizens have called for immediate corrective measures to ensure clean facilities, proper supervision, and health safety for students.
