THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 600 students from Vellarmala Vocational Higher Secondary School and Mundakkai Government LP School, which were destroyed in the devastating landslides in Wayanad district on July 30, will be provided with new facilities at a school in Meppadi to ensure their studies continue uninterrupted.
Education Minister V Sivankutty announced that new facilities would be provided for 614 students from the landslide-affected areas at the Government Higher Secondary School in Meppadi. The first phase will see the construction of 12 classrooms and 10 toilets at the Meppadi school. The minister stated that the construction of rooms and toilets would be completed within 46 to 90 days.
Preliminary estimates indicate that 17 children are missing and 36 have perished in the landslide that caused extensive damage to both schools.
Currently, 12 classrooms, 2 IT labs, and an office staff room are being established at GHS Meppadi to accommodate the students from Vellarmala, and 5 classrooms will be provided at APJ Hall for the children of GLPS Mundakkai.
Exclusive kitchens for the mid-day meal scheme will be established for Vellarmala School and Mundakkai School near Meppadi School. Books have been provided to 296 children who lost theirs in the disaster, and efforts are underway to supply and stitch uniforms for 282 children in need of them.
Initiatives have been launched to install 20 bio-toilets as part of the District Sanitation Mission's efforts.
Efforts are underway to equip an IT lab with laptops and computers, spearheaded by KITE. Psychological support programs for children, parents, and teachers have also been initiated.
The minister announced that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has received instructions to enhance student transportation services.
Furthermore, the Building Contractors' Association has reported an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore for constructing a hostel for children on government-provided land in the subsequent phase.
