Thirsty for education: For college girls in Kallar Syedan, not a drop of water

College admin claims they cannot afford daily use of water tankers.

RAWALPINDI:

More than 300 students of Government Girls Degree College Kallar Syedan, fed up with a severe shortage of drinking water, are threatening to stage a protest outside the Rawalpindi Commissioner’s office if the problem is not resolved soon.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Shumaila Naz, a student, said that no arrangements for drinking water have ever been made by the district government since the institution was established.

She said most students bring water bottles from home but the bigger crisis is lack of water in the toilets — a persistent problem as the water tanks there are mostly empty.

“We have gone and complained at the offices of the Rawalpindi City District Government (CDG), Rawalpindi Commissioner Khalid Masood Chaudhry and District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar, but no one has taken any action to allay our miseries,” she said.

The college administration says they do not have funds to purchase water tankers daily or to make permanent arrangements to solve the issue.

Sofia, a third-year student, said the college has been without a drop of water for many days now and students are forced to carry heavy water bottles from home or buy them from the market.

“We want our daughters to get a quality higher education, but the government’s apathy in providing this basic necessity is disappointing,” said Rukhsana, a student’s mother.

She said it is the government’s job to ensure that students have all the facilities at their disposal and do not have to worry about basics things such as water.

Commissioner Chaudhry expressed complete ignorance about the ongoing water shortage in the college. He said no complaint had been received by his office from any parent or student, while adding, “I will definitely take action if somebody approaches me.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2013.