Rayagada (Gajapati): Going to school for students in well-developed cities means hopping onto one of the school buses and enjoying a smooth ride to the school.
However, for school children of Sandhigaon village under this block in Gajapati district, crossing the Ajaygad river dangerously over wooden logs or swimming across the river to reach the school has become a routine affair.
In the absence of a bridge, the students either swim or use the wooden stem to cross the river. In few cases where children are too young, parents carry them on their shoulders and cross the water body.
While things are adjustable during summer as the river is low, things turn worse during rainy seasons. Despite repeated pleas, the administration has miserably failed to construct a bridge over the river.
Home to 20 tribal families, Sindhigaon village is situated just 7km away from Sadar block. However, the village is too far from development. All basic facilities elude the village due to lack of a concrete road.
Adding to the woes of the villagers is the Ajaygad river. Hundreds of residents of almost four—Cherusahi, Anabar, Badabad, Kumulasingh and Sanatundi panchayat depend on the wooden logs to cross the river dangerously.
However, the administration seems little worried. Even the wooden logs that serve as the bridge are done by the villagers. At least two to three youths of the village guard the place when the students are on their way to school and back home.
Narrating their ordeal one of the students said, “To come to school, we have to cross the 40-45 feet wide river with 1.5 feet water as there is no bridge here.”
“Students either swim across the river or are carried on shoulder by their parents,” he added.
Parents of the students are now worried. The depth of water is currently less in the river but it might increase during the rain. We demand that considering the future of these students, the administration must immediately ensure construction of the footbridge in the river, a local said adding that they would hit streets if no steps were taken in this regard.
PNN