Karnataka students forced to live in cattle shed for five years

In the Hassan district of Karnataka, 172 students at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Residential School have reportedly been living and studying in a cattle shed for the past five years. The students, aged between 11 and 16, include 92 boys and 80 girls enrolled from grades 6 to 10.

The facility lacks basic infrastructure, with reports indicating that students must eat, sleep, and study in the same space. Sixth-grade students are reportedly forced to sit on the ground to study, and there is a severe shortage of sanitation facilities, with only five toilets available for 92 boys and inadequate facilities for the girls. The shed also lacks sufficient ventilation and light.

The Social Welfare Department stated that the students were moved to the shed because no other buildings were available while construction on a new school building is underway. Following the reports, the state's education minister has demanded a detailed report from education officials regarding the situation.