CJP claims ‘major win’ as Rajasthan clears Rs 18 lakh for ‘cowshed school’ building

A day after a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) delegation was attacked by some persons, whom the CJP alleges were affiliated with the ruling BJP, the Rajasthan government Saturday approved Rs 18 lakh for a new building at the school at the centre of controversy, with construction set to begin on September 1.

The fledgling outfit, which had warned of a Jantar Mantar like protest if the school is not repaired and the goons are not arrested, has termed this as a major victory. Officials said that based on a survey, the building of the government primary school Rampura (Kanwarpura), located in Jaipur’s Sanganer block, was declared dilapidated in September 2025.

The school has 18 students and two teachers. In a statement, the government said financial approval of Rs 12 lakh was issued from the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) fund on August 13, 2026. Additionally, Rs 6 lakh has been approved from the MLA fund.

Terming it a “major victory” for the CJP, CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, who was among those attacked on Friday while going to the school, said: “The school in Rampura, running in a buffalo shed, will be rebuilt”. Congratulating CJP’s Rajasthan team, CJP founding president Abhijeet Dipke said: “After the brutal attack on our volunteers, the Rajasthan government has finally agreed to renovate the buffalo shed school, as we demanded!

A big victory for everyone who stood up for better schools”. Earlier, in a video statement, Dipke had said that “I will go to Jaipur if the school repair work doesn’t begin and the BJP goons are not arrested within the next 48 hours.” According to the government, the school was established in 1985 as a primary school, and the school building originally housed two classrooms, a veranda and a toilet.

Over time, the building grew old and fragile, and a technical survey was conducted to ensure student safety. Based on the survey report, the building was declared dilapidated and removed from student use. Officials said that after the building was declared dilapidated, it was proposed to shift the students to the nearby government higher secondary school, Bilwa, for their safety.

“However, the villagers objected to sending the students out of the village, considering the young age of the children and the inconvenience of commuting from one village to another. Prioritising the sentiments of the local people and the convenience of the children, immediate alternative arrangements were made in the village with the cooperation of the villagers,” the government statement claimed.

Initially, the villagers provided two rooms and a tin shed for the school’s operation, so that the children’s education could continue uninterrupted, the government said, apparently referring to the cowshed premises alleged by the CJP.

With the school being shifted to a new building on Saturday, the government said that “local villagers provided a more comfortable alternative building with two rooms and a veranda to improve the children’s convenience”.

“Currently, the school operates smoothly from this safe and convenient alternative building. This arrangement is also a positive example of coordination between the government and the local public, with villagers actively participating to ensure the safety of students and the continuity of education.” Hamza Khan is a seasoned Correspondent for The Indian Express, specifically reporting from the diverse and politically dynamic state of Rajasthan.

Based in Jaipur, he provides high-authority coverage on the state's governance, legal landscape, and social issues, directly supporting the "Journalism of Courage" ethos of the publication. Expertise Politics & Governance: Comprehensive tracking of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, including policy changes (e.g., the Right to Health Bill and Anti-Mob Lynching Bills), bypoll dynamics, and the shifting power structures between the BJP and Congress.

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