New bridge to spare Karauli students perilous river crossing
The Karauli district administration began constructing a bridge over the Bhainsavat river on Sunday, two days after a Hindustan Times report highlighted the hardships faced by school students in the region due to the absence of such a structure
The Karauli district administration began constructing a bridge over the Bhainsavat river on Sunday, two days after a Hindustan Times report highlighted the hardships faced by school students in the region due to the absence of such a structure.
The news report, which appeared in the newspaper’s September 23 edition, described how students of three villages in Karauli district were forced to cross the water body on inflated rubber tubes to reach their schools every day. Taking note of the report, the National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the Rajasthan government the very next day.
Indu Devi Jatav, pardhan of the Karauli panchayat samiti, thanked Hindustan Times for bringing the matter to the notice of the authorities. District collector Manoj Kumar Sharma has ordered the Karauli sub-divisional magistrate to plan the project, and construction work on the bridge is expected to be completed soon.
Road connectivity between the settlements in Karauli district is affected every time the 15-foot-deep Bhainsavat river swells up during the monsoon, forcing villagers to cross it on inflated tubes. Though the residents had submitted memorandums and approached officials as well as politicians on several occasions, promises were all they received in return.
As the Karauli panchayat only has a primary school, students who want to continue their education have to travel five kilometres to the secondary school at Chainpur Gadoli – crossing the river en route. As many as 85 such students from Machet, Sevachin ka Pura and Madho Singh Ka Pura reportedly take this route every day.
The villagers’ joy knew no bounds when building material for the bridge was unloaded on the river bank on Saturday. Shreeram Meena, block development officer of the Karauli panchayat samiti, said a budget of Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned for the project. More funds will be allocated as and when required.
“The bridge has been a long-cherished dream for us. Until now, our students have had to cross the river under dangerous conditions,” said Hari Singh Meena, sarpanch of the Manchi gram panchayat.
The district administration has also arranged for a bus to take the students to school until the bridge construction is completed. Though the vehicle will have to take a longer route circumventing the river, students would be spared the ordeal of crossing the river in this manner.