Students Dangerously Cross Tawi River in J&K to Reach Schools! Similar Incidents Reported from Maharashtra & Gujarat, Why Are Authorities Turning Their Head?
Of what use is development if children can't reach their schools safely and people have to risk their lives for mere commuting?
Udhampur, July 16: Students of a village in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir cross Tawi river daily to reach their school after the foot bridge at Kugaini near Jakhed, Dudu had washed away a month back. According to news agency ANI, the students have been forced to cross the river by entering the water as the bridge was swept away due to the increased water-levels and intensity of the stream.
Students say, "We face lots of problems. At times we can't reach school on time. We request govt to build a bridge(sic)." ANI tweeted pictures and video of the kids crossing the river to make it to their schools. Have a look at the tweet first:
Here is the video of the boys crossing the river in the absence of the bridge:
Mumbai and the surrounding areas have been braving torrential rains, and one such incident has emerged from the state of Maharashtra as well. Students from Bhiwandi taluka were forced to walk in knee-deep water, risking their lives, to reach their schools in another taluka.
Risking their lives, locals in Gujarat's Kheda town commute every day through a bridge that has been in a collapsed state since two months. Children, too, cross the bridge by risking their lives on their way to school. For the past two months, locals have been petitioning the authorities to construct a bridge that will connect Naika and Bherai villages.
While one can applaud the passion for education in these children, one also has to see the risk involved and the sheer apathy of the administration in ensuring a safe means for the children to reach schools and general public to make it to their destination. After all, of what use is development if children can't reach their schools safely and people have to risk their lives for mere commuting? The authorities will have to ponder over this question and come up with helpful answers rather than meaningless excuses.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2018 08:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).