Lessons from Mirzapur to save schoolkids from dangling wires

LUCKNOW: For 15 years, children in 27 government schools of UP’s Mirzapur district studied under dangerously dangling high tension wires until the district administration stepped in and raised funds through gram panchayats and kshetra panchayats and got the wires removed in March this year.
Now plans are afoot to replicate the ‘Mirzapur model’ in other UP districts, specially in wake of the mishap in Balrampur district where 53 children suffered burns when high tension wires fell on the school building on Monday.
This model would be incorporated in districts where the problem of high tension wires ricocheting over schools have been reported, principal secretary, energy, Alok Kumar told TOI.
Kumar added that all DMs would be asked to study the model and get the high tension wires removed from over the schools.
“We assessed the situation and roped in gram panchayats and kshetra panchayats depending upon the expenses which were to be incurred in doing the job,” Mirzapur DM Anurag Patel told TOI.
He said the funds given to the gram and kshetra panchayats under State Finance Commission and 14th Finance Commission were used to remove the high tension wires which posed danger to the lives of children.
The energy department’s initiative to use the Mirzapur model comes two days after chief minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a probe into the Balrampur incident and asked the officials to frame a long term strategy to address the problem of high tension wires dangling over school buildings.
The National Human Rights Commission has also sought explanation from UP government on Balrampur incident and has recommended ex gratia relief for the victims.