Maharashtra: Students travel over 10 km to reach school in Palghar's tribal villages

Students from over 35 different villages and padas study at Chhatrapati Vidyalaya and Junior College, Sakhare village

Even as schools have reopened in several Covid-free zones in rural Maharashtra since mid-July, students in several tribal villages in Palghar district are facing the "unavoidable punishment" of having to travel long distances, navigating dangerous roads, seasonal rivers, treacherous weather, and snakebite fear, to reach school daily.

According to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, neighbourhood schools must be within a one kilometre radius for children between Classes I and V, and 3 km for children studying in Classes VI-VIII. However, the Act does not mandate defined limits of neighbourhood schools for children studying in classes IX and above.

When this reporter visited different talukas in the Palghar district last week, he noticed several students walking 14 to 20 km daily to and from home and school. "It is like a punishment for me. It takes me more than an hour to reach school in Sakhare village," said Class VIII student Tejas Fadwale, who lives in Umbarwogan village of Vikramgarh taluka of Palghar district. Fadwale, who wants to become an engineer, is joined by five other students, including his classmate Pardeep Navasu.

While girls can avail free bus services to school as part of the Manav Vikas Yojana, there is no such facility available for boys. Pics/Hanif Patel

When asked why they don't board a bus to reach school, one of them said, "Paisa nahin hain."

The students study at Chhatrapati Vidyalaya and Junior College, which is run by an 11-member trust. "Students come to this school for education from 35 different villages and padas located within the radius of around 8 km from here," said Vitthal Gore, principal of the school.

"All the schools were shut during the pandemic. We only reopened after securing permissions from the gram panchayat as the villages from where these students come, have not had any Covid-19 positive cases in the last one month," he added.

The school, which reopened on July 19, runs in two shifts. The first shift begins at 7.45 am for Class IX to XII students and ends at 12.15 pm. "The second shift starts at 12.30 pm for those in Classes VI-VIII and ends at 5 pm," Gore said.

The principal admitted that most students have to walk long distances to reach the school. "There is a Central government scheme [Manav Vikas Yojana], under which female students can get free bus services. But, at this point, due to the pandemic, bus services are yet to start. I have written to the block education officer regarding the same."

However, many villages are still not connected to the main road and so, many girls still cannot avail of the government transportation facility.

Renuka Gaikwad, a Class XII student, who lives in Kundachapada, which is located more than 6 km from her school, said, "I have to walk through muddy and waterlogged roads to reach school. It takes me hours."

Chinchpada is another village from where Godawari Kurkute reaches her school on foot, walking 8 km daily. "I get tired, but I have to continue my studies, as I want to become a collector."

Yogesh Nandan, who teaches English and political science to junior college students, told mid-day that the students get exhausted after walking long distances to attend school. "A few of them dose off in class," he said.

Vitthal Gore, principal of the school

When contacted, Vivek Pandit, chairman of a panel appointed by the state government to check the status of tribal schemes, said that many students drop out of school because they are unable to travel to school.

"We are talking about bullet trains, super highways, and other legal projects, but the basic infrastructure students need is health and education," he said. He feels that even male students should not be deprived of the free bus facility to reach school. "I have been petitioning for equal rights for tribal students for years."

When contacted, the Palghar district collector Maanikrao Gursal said he will talk to the MRSTC to restart bus services for girl students to school and back. Siddharam Salimath, Zila Parishad CEO, Palghar district, was unavailable for comment.