A long trek to reach school

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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/10/24/stories/2009102450780200.htm)
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A long trek to reach school


Ch. Santakar
KORAPUT: Programmes and schemes to provide education for all at the doorstep of each child seems to be a distant dream with girls like Rajeswari Khora and Swagatika Khora walking at least 13 km daily to reach their school at Chikambo in Dasmantpur block of Koraput district. Many girls along with boys like Damodar Bisoyi start their walk from Girligumma, Dumbaguda and Rohiambo in the block as early as six in the morning so as to reach their school before the first bell rings at 10 a.m.
By the time they take out their first step from their houses, there is very little food for the children prepared except a few grains of left over rice from the last night’s meal. After walking for all these miles they barely have any energy to listen to the lessons. They return home at eight in the night.
The school at Chikambo has classes from Standard I to X with the provision of mid-day meal. But the scheme of mid-day meal is meant for the students up to Standard VIII only and hence these students had to remain hungry for the entire day even though food was served in front of them for the younger children.
While the distance of these villages range from 13 to 18 km from the school point, there is no other way to get education, says Rajeswari, a student of Class X. The primary school at Girligumma has been upgraded up to Standard IX this year.

Roads in bad shape
Roads in the block pose a challenge for the vehicles being operated to these remote corners of the block and the two buses in the early morning are the only hope for the commuters. But to pay a bus fare of Rs.5 for a single side journey per child to the school is something out of question as parents are too poor to pay the amount, Swagatika, another student from the school says.
While the tribal children get the scope to get admission in schools managed by H&TW department of the government, at least ten girls from other castes discontinued their studies this year for having failed to spare a complete day’s time for their education by walking miles.


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