A distressing instance of civic negligence has come to light in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, where primary and middle school students from Kshatriyapur village in Kerakat tehsil are forced to wade through hazardous, mud filled tracks every day to reach their classrooms. Severe waterlogging and lack of paved infrastructure have rendered the main village pathway virtually impassable. Falling into the slick mud, dirtying school uniforms, and consequently facing reprimands from teachers for late arrival have become part of the daily ordeal for these young children. Pushed to their limits, the students along with local residents personally met District Magistrate Samuel Paul to demand an immediate resolution.
Daily Struggles of Young Students on Muddy Paths
Commuting to school has turned into a dangerous hurdle for the village youngsters. Drishti Vishwakarma, a second grade student who walks nearly two and a half kilometers every day to reach her school, described how the treacherous condition of the path leads to frequent accidents. She shared that she had slipped and fallen into the mud multiple times over the past week alone, making her an object of mockery among peers. Appealing directly to the administration, she urged officials to construct a proper road so children can travel safely.
Similarly, Anchal Vishwakarma, a sixth grade student attending school in nearby Chakke, highlighted how the poor connectivity impacts access to transport. School vans refuse to navigate the deep mud and cannot enter the village. Consequently, students are left with no choice but to walk through sludge, resulting in soiled uniforms and stern scoldings from school staff upon arrival.
Four Years of Administrative Neglect
Local resident Deepak Kumar pointed out that Kshatriyapur village houses a sizable population including members of the Vishwakarma, Maurya, and Mishra communities. Despite being a crucial connector for hundreds of inhabitants, the principal access road has remained severely damaged for over four years. According to residents, repeated written representations have been submitted to various administrative and police authorities, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Circle Officer (CO), local police station in-charge, and the District Magistrate, but no corrective action was initiated.
Interruption of Local Self-Help Efforts and DM Assurance
Frustrated by long-standing apathy, the villagers recently attempted to make the track passable on their own by laying down construction debris (ravish) to cover the mud. However, local administrative and police personnel reportedly intervened, halting the community driven initiative and threatening locals against proceeding with the work. Left with no alternative, a delegation of villagers and school children directly approached District Magistrate Samuel Paul. Upon hearing their grievance, the official assured them that the road construction work would be prioritized and undertaken soon.
