Soaked Students, Drenched Books: Meghalaya’s Education Crisis Laid Bare in Viral Video

Correspondent

Shillong: Despite receiving the highest allocation in the state budget, Meghalaya’s education sector is buckling under infrastructural apathy—nowhere more evident than in Chinaramgre village, West Garo Hills. A viral video showing school children drenched in rain while attending class under a broken roof has laid bare the grim realities rural students continue to face.

The footage from Chinaramgre Government Lower Primary School, located around 23 kilometres from Tikrikilla near Raksamgre, sparked outrage and concern, prompting immediate visits by media and student bodies. The school’s roof—half-damaged and long-neglected—offers little to no protection from rain or blazing sunlight. The result: children are forced to study while wet, their books soaked, and their health jeopardized.

“We, too, saw that circulated video and wondered whether it’s rumour or reality. To find out the truth, our entire team came to this school and spoke with people in the village. Seeing it made us feel very distressed. We also gathered information from the students. They told us that during the rains they get soaked even while inside their classrooms, and their books get drenched too. As the president of the students, it deeply saddened me. I appeal to our Education Minister, Rakkam, and to our Chief Minister to please fix this school as soon as possible. I have full faith in them,” said Odith Sangma, president of the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Western Zone.

Local authorities, too, admit the issue has been known for years. “In 2022, we submitted a memorandum to former MLA Benidick, but he was unable to take any action. Subsequently, we informed the current MLA about the school’s condition, not through a formal memorandum but through conversations. The local MLA even visited the school and witnessed the situation firsthand. However, to this day, no action has been taken. Although we did not submit a written demand, we have communicated our concerns verbally. Yet, nothing has changed. We continue to wait for a positive response from the government,” said Marking Stone B. Marak, President of the school.

Parents, too, are losing patience. “We have often seen the children of this school returning home soaked in cold water. At home, we have to dry their clothes and books in the sun,” lamented Changal B. Marak, Vice President of the school.

The episode has reignited debate over the efficiency of Meghalaya’s education expenditure. While the sector receives the largest slice of the state budget, insiders point out that a bulk of it is absorbed by salaries, leaving rural infrastructure to decay unchecked.

As the viral video continues to circulate, public pressure is mounting on state authorities to prioritise action over announcements. Until then, the children of Chinaramgre remain symbols of a system that spends big—but delivers little.

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