Alampur, Telangana | July 30, 2025 –
A group of *Gurukul school students from Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal district, undertook a bold *padayatra (protest walk) to bring attention to their poor living conditions and administrative neglect. Their demand was simple: “Let us tell our problems directly to the Collector, sir!”
Students Walk 45 km to Seek Basic Rights
Nearly *59 students, mostly from 9th and 10th grades, began walking from their school near Alampur Chowrasta to the **District Collectorate, over 45 kilometers away. Despite **police persuasion, the students refused to turn back. They carried their grievances not in banners, but in lived experiences—drinking borewell water, **eating meals with insects, and *living without basic toilets.
Cries for Help Ignored for 50 Days
For over *50 days, the students of **Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Boys Gurukul School, located in a rented private building in Pulluru village, have been pleading for better facilities. The school accommodates over *560 students, from class 5 to Intermediate level.
Despite repeated appeals, the students allege that authorities showed no concern. Their toilets were locked by the building owner in the name of repairs. With only 16 unusable toilets, students were forced to defecate in the open. Drinking water was limited to borewell supply, while staff used filtered water.
“Even when we complained about insects in food, nobody cared,” said one student.
Police Intervene, Addl. Collector Responds
As the students marched nearly 9 km, police officers including SI Sekhar and SI Chandrakant intervened. After intense discussions, officials assured the children that their complaints would be addressed. The students were transported back to the school in a DCM vehicle.
Soon after, Additional Collector Narsinga Rao visited the hostel and personally reviewed the situation. He promised:
- Immediate construction of 30 new toilets
- Safe drinking water arrangements
- Nutritious meals with quality rice
- Installation of complaint boxes for students to voice concerns
Harish Rao Slams Government Over Crisis
Former Minister T. Harish Rao strongly criticized Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress government for ignoring student welfare. He called the administration “inhuman” for not responding to students marching for food and water.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Harish Rao questioned:
“Why is the Chief Minister silent when Gurukul students are protesting for basic needs?”
He urged Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan to focus on the student protests instead of political campaigns. Harish Rao also blamed the government for *forcibly transporting students in DCM vans, calling it a *shameful act.
Key Highlights:
- Gurukul Students from Alampur launched a padayatra (protest walk) demanding basic amenities like clean drinking water and usable toilets.
- Over 50 students walked nearly 9 km aiming to submit their plea directly to the District Collector in Gadwal.
- Students complained they’ve been drinking bore water for over 50 days, while teachers get filtered water.
- Students reported finding insects in food and cited a lack of toilets, forcing them to use open spaces.
- The *hostel operates from a private rented building, lacking infrastructure for over *560 students.
- Police intervened and convinced the students to return after promising administrative attention.
- Additional Collector Narsinga Rao visited the hostel and promised to construct 30 new toilets and improve food and water facilities.
- Harish Rao criticized CM Revanth Reddy, accusing the Congress government of failing to notice students’ suffering.
- Rao called it a “collapse of the Gurukul system” and demanded immediate reforms and student-focused governance.
- He urged Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan to prioritize student welfare over political rallies and padayatras.