Gen Alpha Protests Highlight Discrepancies in India's School Data

New Delhi, India Aug 21, 2026 ALN: In recent weeks, school students across the country have launched protests against the poor conditions of their schools. The protests, dubbed the "Gen Alpha" protests, echo the earlier "Gen Z" protests that began in Delhi and spread throughout India.

Protesting students have engaged in various forms of demonstration, including sitting at school gates, blocking roads, and marching to local authorities' offices to present their demands. These actions have prompted the Cockroach Janata Party to initiate the "School Thik Karo," or Fix the Schools, campaign.

Students and activists from the Cockroach Janata Party have shared videos on social media showcasing dilapidated classrooms, with crumbling plaster, missing benches and desks, clogged toilets, and discolored drinking water.

The situation highlighted by the protests starkly contrasts with India's official data, which claims that 99% of government schools have toilet facilities and 99.6% have access to drinking water.

This data is compiled on the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE Plus), which includes details on student enrollment, teacher numbers, classroom conditions, and available facilities.

However, activists and experts argue that the UDISE data often does not reflect the actual conditions on the ground. According to Aektha Chanda, an activist from Rajasthan, school principals may feel pressured to present an overly positive picture of their institutions for fear of job security. "The staff feels the need to paint a bright picture of the state of the school because they feel that their jobs would be at risk if they admit to failures in the school," she stated.

The discrepancies between UDISE data and real-life conditions become particularly evident when examining individual schools. An analysis of data from five schools in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh revealed that while UDISE data painted a robust picture, video evidence and student testimonies indicated otherwise.

Alwar, Rajasthan

The Government UPS Jodhawas school in Alwar reported having six classrooms, with only one needing minor repairs, and claimed both of its toilets were functional. However, protesting students reported that a roof slab in an unused classroom collapsed in August, forcing 174 students to share just three usable classrooms due to the dilapidated state of the building. They demanded repairs to classrooms and toilets, installation of a water filter, and more teachers.

Support from Ashutosh Ranka, a spokesperson for the Cockroach Janata Party, galvanized the protests, particularly after he clashed with Bharatiya Janata Party workers who attempted to prevent his entry. Following the protests and Ranka’s visit, authorities promised to address the necessary repairs.

A Class 10 student from the school, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the challenges faced due to inadequate infrastructure. "Every time it rained, the classroom roof leaked, and only three rooms were usable, forcing us to cram in there," she explained. She noted that the school only received electricity for two hours a day, rendering fans useless, and that the toilets were unhygienic, requiring students and teachers to clean them.

While repairs have begun, the student warned, "If they don't keep their promise, we will protest again. We fought for the right reasons, so there is no fear; we will do it again if necessary."

Jaipur, Rajasthan

The Government Seth Anandilal Poddar Badhir Senior Secondary School, which caters to speech and hearing-impaired students, reported having 28 classrooms for 599 students, claiming no repairs were needed. However, students contradicted this, citing incidents where ceiling plaster fell and documenting deteriorating conditions, unhygienic toilets, and a lack of drinking water and teachers.

Kishunpur, Uttar Pradesh

At Sarvodaya Inter School in Kishunpur, the administration claimed to have 19 classrooms for 1,883 students, with only six needing minor repairs. Yet, students protested over broken furniture, leaking roofs, poor sanitation, and a lack of drinking water. The district inspector acknowledged the students' complaints and stated that steps were being taken to resolve the issues.

Another school in the area, Gangwa Ka Dera Primary School, claimed to be accessible by an all-weather road, but students had to walk five kilometers to the district magistrate’s office to demand better access.

Gaya, Bihar

Simuara Middle School reported having 11 classrooms, with four needing major repairs, and claimed its toilets and drinking water facilities were functional. However, students marched four kilometers to the sub-divisional office to demand repairs, citing dysfunctional toilets, poor electricity supply, and inadequate midday meals.

Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh

The administration of HSS Tatam School in Chhatarpur submitted data to the portal that claimed satisfactory conditions, but students have raised concerns about the actual state of their school facilities.

The ongoing protests and the discrepancies between official data and student experiences underscore a critical need for transparency and accountability in India's educational infrastructure. As students continue to voice their concerns, the call for reform in the education system grows louder.