Children of Kaluwara village in Punjab walk to school after crossing the river by boat along the border with Pakistan. NHRC has now sent a notice to the Punjab government on this matter.
Image Credit source: AP
Even though Punjab is counted among the prosperous states of the country. But in terms of education system, there are some areas of the state which are very backward. This fact has been confirmed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) itself. Actually, Punjab To go to school in Kaluwara village, children have to walk on a muddy path along the river and then cross the river with the help of a boat to go to school. This is the situation when there has been so much progress in the country that there are arrangements ranging from buses to auto rickshaws to send children to school.
This is the reason why the National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Punjab government, citing media reports that students in Kaluwara village are not getting proper educational facilities. It has been said in this notice that students are not getting proper educational facilities in Kaluwara village of the state.
What did NHRC say?
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of a media report that students, especially girls, in Kaluwara village first walk on the muddy banks of the Sutlej river, then board a ‘berhi’ (wooden boat) Huh. They cross the river through this wooden boat. After that walk another 4 kms along the border with Pakistan. After crossing so many difficult paths, they finally reach the Government Senior Secondary School in Gatti Rajoke area of Ferozepur district to study.
NHRC said in its statement, ‘It has been told in the media report that Kaluwara village is surrounded by river water from three sides. The village is surrounded by boundary fence from the fourth side. During heavy rains, water from the river floods the fields and houses. Due to this, the people living here are forced to spend the day on the roofs. There are 50 families living in this village and there is only one primary school. Most of the girls studying in primary school drop out after 5th standard.
Answer sought from Punjab government
The commission has also sought a report from the Punjab government and asked it to explain what steps have been taken to provide better and hassle-free access to students in the region. The statement said that the commission is of the view that it is the job of the state government to provide access to the education system to every child without any hindrance or difficulty.
: Language Inputs