Gariaband. Education is considered the right of every child, but in the tribal development block Mainpur area of ​​Gariaband district, children have to risk their lives every day to get education. Gariaband. One such horrific and heart-wrenching scene has come to the fore in the Pairi river between Gram Panchayat Deharguda and Khambhatha, just 5 km away from the tehsil headquarters Mainpur, where school children are forced to go to school by climbing and descending an iron ladder fixed on a 20 feet high pillar.

Here, the shadow of death looms at every step, and even a slight slipping of the foot threatens a major mishap or a fatal accident. Risking their lives, when these innocent children leave their homes for school every morning, they carry their books along with an unknown fear. No safety measures have been made by the contractor, the government, or the local authorities to cross the incomplete bridge or the high pillars on the way. The narrow iron-bar-clad ladder erected as an alternative is the only support for these children.

When these children, carrying heavy school bags on their backs, take each step carefully on this staircase, the parents standing below and the onlooking villagers are left breathless. The situation becomes even more frightening during rainy days or when the stairs are even slightly slippery. The family members say that they are always worried whether their child will return home safely or not. According to the villagers, complaints have been made several times regarding this serious problem, but till now the government and administration have not woken up. Is the administration waiting for some major accident?

Even after 5 years, the bridge worth crores is incomplete, the collector's reprimand is ineffective.
For the last 5-6 years, a huge bridge construction work is being done in the Pairi river between Gram Panchayat Deharguda and Khambhatha, 5 km away from Tehsil headquarters Mainpur. The bridge construction work is going on at a very slow pace. On the complaint of the villagers, the regional MLA Janak Dhruv and the then collector of Gariaband Bhagwan Singh Uike had inspected the site a year ago and severely reprimanded the construction agency contractor and the officials of the concerned department. The construction agency had said that it would complete the bridge construction work within 6 months before the rains, but the collector's reprimand did not have any effect on the contractor, as a result of which the children are forced to come to school by risking their lives on the incomplete bridge.

If any major accident occurs then who will be responsible for it, moreover the iron rods on the incomplete bridge whose length is around 300 m are exposed and sharp at many places in dangerous condition due to which children and villagers are getting injured everyday, due to continuous rain the school children are forced to go up and down the 20 feet high pillar with the help of a ladder.

The government's claims have been exposed.
On one hand, the government raises tall slogans like 'If India studies, India will progress' and 'Everyone should study, everyone should progress', while on the other hand, these claims are being exposed on the ground in the tribal development sector. Due to lack of safe routes, many children have stopped going to school out of fear, due to which their future is hanging in the dark. Now it remains to be seen whether the responsible officials will wake up after this news comes to light or these children will be left to travel under the shadow of death

Now preparations for agitation are underway.

Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Mahesh Dewan, District Member Pratap Singh Markam, former Deputy Sarpanch Pawan Dewan, Lokesh Sande, Liladhar, Ramprasad, Sohan Nagesh Budhram Sande, Hitram, Devan Singh Netam, Sohan Nagesh, former Sarpanch Dikeshwari Sande and villagers said that the construction work is being done at a very snail's pace by the bridge contractor. Complaints have been made several times. During these rainy days, dozens of children are coming from Khambhatha and other localities across the river to study in primary, middle and high schools. Due to the river being in spate, they are reaching school by crossing the river or climbing a 20 feet high pillar. There is a possibility of a serious accident at any time. The villagers have demanded from the Gariaband Collector and the government administration that serious attention should be paid to this, otherwise the villagers and students will be forced to block the National Highway 130C.

MLA Janak Dhruv said that instructions were given to complete the construction
a year ago after inspecting the incomplete bridge and an assurance was given to complete the construction work within 6 months. Now the children are facing a lot of trouble and the villagers are also commuting by risking their lives. The Public Works Department Bridge Division and the concerned construction agency are not paying any attention to the situation. Immediate action should be taken againDudhaw.