Mayawati backs Gen Alpha school protests, urges govts to address basic needs

Lucknow, BSP leader Mayawati expressed support for recent school protests by Gen Alpha students demanding basic amenities and infrastructure improvements. She lamented that children are being forced to take to the streets to seek facilities essential for their elementary education. Mayawati noted that Gen Alpha, particularly students and their parents, are deeply concerned about obtaining a quality education for a brighter future, and have been consistently striving for it.

The deteriorating state of schools, especially in Uttar Pradesh and northern India, has led these young protesters to become vocal and participate enthusiastically in the nationwide "School Thik Karo" campaign by the Cockroach Janta Party. She emphasized that education, especially at the school level, has always been a critical concern for the Bahujan Samaj due to BR Ambedkar's emphasis on education.

Mayawati's BSP government in Uttar Pradesh had given full attention to the welfare and education of deprived and exploited sections, ensuring access to livelihood and education in line with the Constitution. However, she accused other governments of largely ignoring school education and alleged a conspiracy to render the entire educational system ineffective, similar to how reservation policies for these sections have been undermined.

Thousands of government schools are closing, a move the BSP has consistently opposed. The shortage of basic facilities like school buildings, teachers, drinking water, toilets, and cleanliness has made Gen Alpha highly vocal and prompted student protests across Uttar Pradesh. In Lucknow, students, twice within a week, blocked road traffic during rain to demand better facilities in government-run residential schools.

Mayawati urged all governments to address Gen Alpha's needs and demands with empathy and proper policies, urging them to avoid using force against the protesting students.