Neglected Government School Building in Mudigere Taluk Used as Sheep Shed, Villagers Demand Action

Residents and alumni in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district have raised serious concerns over the utter neglect of a former government primary school building, which has now been turned into a sheep shed by local livestock rearers. The primary school, which once educated generations of rural children, was closed down a few years ago after student enrollment plummeted. However, despite repeated appeals from local villagers to maintain or repurpose the infrastructure, education department officials left the building completely abandoned. Over time, the doors, windows, and roof structure deteriorated due to lack of maintenance, allowing local sheep rearers to store fodder and shelter animals inside the vacant classrooms. The sight of a former center of learning being reduced to an animal pen has angered community members, parents, and youth in the region. Local residents pointed out that the government property could easily have been renovated and repurposed into an Anganwadi center, a village digital library, or a community hall for Gram Panchayat activities. Villagers in Mudigere have now demanded that the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) and local taluk education officers immediately conduct a site inspection, clear the encroachment, and sanction funds for restoring the facility. The incident highlights a widespread issue across rural Karnataka, where closed government school properties are left to decay or face misuse due to a lack of institutional oversight and prompt administrative intervention.