CJP audit flags 25 benches for 70 students at Mumbai civic school

A civic audit by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) found severe infrastructure gaps at Mumbai Public School in Colaba, including 25 benches for a classroom of 70 students, unsanitary toilets, and broken taps. The audit, conducted under the 'School Thik Karo' campaign, also noted no CCTV cameras, no playground, unavailable sanitary pads, and garbage-filled classrooms left unused.

The school is operating from a temporary building near Colaba Market after its original premises were declared unsafe. Enrolment has dropped from 3,700 to about 2,700, with CJP member Pranay Ahire alleging 1,000 students left, some moving to private schools or dropping out. BMC education officer Sujata Khare attributed the fall partly to the distance of the new premises and said vernacular medium classes combine students due to low numbers.

Khare acknowledged the absence of CCTV cameras since the shift and said the headmaster has been summoned to explain. The CJP has given the civic administration a one-month ultimatum to resolve the issues, failing which it will protest. The party also plans an all-Mumbai meeting on August 21 to audit more civic schools.