Parents of students at the Indira Nagar Government Middle School in Valaiyampattu panchayat near Vaniyambadi staged a dramatic protest on Thursday, locking the school gates to highlight unsafe conditions and poor infrastructure. Over 250 students study in the school, but the approach road has remained severely damaged for months, making daily commutes risky and uncomfortable.

Protesters alleged that several students have fallen and injured themselves while walking on the uneven and waterlogged path leading to the campus. They also complained that rainwater mixed with sewage has collected around the school, creating a foul smell and turning the area into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. As a result, children frequently fall ill, worsening parents’ concerns about safety and hygiene.

Determined to draw attention to the issue, parents and local residents locked the school premises early in the morning, refusing to let classes resume until officials took action. Their demands included immediate repair of the road, proper drainage management, and improvement of the school’s basic infrastructure. The protest continued for several hours, drawing widespread attention from the local community.

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Police personnel from Vaniyambadi Rural Station and panchayat officials soon arrived at the spot and held discussions with the agitated parents. Authorities assured that steps would be taken to resolve the road and sanitation issues at the earliest. Following this assurance, the parents agreed to end their protest and reopened the school later in the day.

The incident once again underscores the persistent challenges faced by rural government schools in Tamil Nadu, where poor infrastructure continues to affect safety and access to education for hundreds of children.

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