Smart Class Without Electricity: Uproar Over 'Showpiece' Scheme In MP School
A government school in Jogiani Gram Panchayat of Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district is at the centre of a growing controversy after a so-called 'smart class" was inaugurated in the absence of even a basic electricity connection. The move, which saw an LED TV installed in the school under the guise of promoting digital learning, has sparked outrage among villagers and students, who now demand an immediate probe into what they describe as a sham exercise and a misuse of public funds.
Photos and videos shared by local residents clearly show the absence of any power supply in the school, raising serious questions about the intentions behind launching a smart class programme that cannot function. The villagers allege that the LED TV is nothing more than a 'decorative showpiece", purchased using taxpayers' money with no plan in place for actual implementation. Students, who had hoped to benefit from modern learning tools, now stare at a blank screen, quite literally.
The school's so-called smart class was launched by the District Project Office of the Education Department in Singrauli, which now faces direct allegations of serious irregularities, administrative negligence, and misuse of authority. The complainants have urged the District Collector and District Education Officer to initiate a high-level investigation into the matter and to take strict action against those responsible.
According to the complaint, officials from the District Project Coordinator (DPC) office allegedly went ahead with the inauguration by merely attaching a copy of an order sanctioning DTH installation, a move that locals say was aimed at creating an illusion of progress. They have termed the act as criminal in nature, citing provisions under Sections 166 and 167 of the now-replaced IPC and Sections 199 and 200 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, for misrepresentation and dereliction of duty.
'This is not just negligence but a betrayal of our children's future," said one villager, asking how a smart class can function without electricity. 'The government says it wants to improve education, but such actions prove it is more interested in publicity than real development," he alleged.
At the heart of the controversy lies a growing mistrust among rural residents toward schemes that look good on paper but collapse in practice. The villagers argue that the education department has not only failed to deliver on promises of quality education but has also insulted the aspirations of children in remote areas like Jogiani.
The smart class, instead of bridging the digital divide, has become a glaring symbol of systemic failure. For now, the LED screen stands switched off in a powerless room, emblematic of an education system that often prioritises appearances over outcomes.
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