The schools run by the Surat Municipal Corporation's Nagar Prathamik Shikshan Samiti play host to myriad groups: from the catastrophe-affected to teams of surveyors to State Reserve Police personnel. The Samiti, 59 of whose 74 schools went under water in the recent floods, is now beginning to question why it should be the ones to suffer.

``Eighty per cent of our funds come from the government, but there are schools that receive 100 per cent funds. Why should we be singled out?'', asks Samiti president Hitendra Chudawala.

Apart from the schools themselves, the administration presses school staff into service during crises. All things considered -- some schools could not resume classes because cash doles were being distributed there, while others were occupied by the flood-affected fearing another deluge -- schools opened for just 10 days before shutting down for the Diwali vacations.

As things stand, the Samiti is yet to ascertain the extent of damage in various schools, though the damaged benches is estimated to cost Rs 30 lakhs to repair. ``When schools reopened we were busy calculating losses suffered by teachers in affected areas'', said Chudawala.

Delivery of benches in the school has already started and the samiti hopes to get the schools back in original shape by December. Though the samiti claims that damage caused by flood water has been set right, the outward appearance of the schools belie the claim.

``I am aware of the problem but we have not taken any policy decision'', said leader of the ruling party in SMC Natubhai Patel.

The recent losses have forced the civic body to give up its claim to host a sports tournament for all civic schools of Gujarat. ``We may request other civic bodies to host the games,'' Chudawala said, adding, however, that they would go ahead with the district level science fair.