More than two dozen girls from the border region meet the Bijapur Collector and District Education Officer, seeking a permanent hostel for Classes 9 to 12
Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: More than two dozen schoolgirls from the Pamhed area along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border traveled to Bijapur on Friday to raise their concerns with the district administration. The students met the Collector and District Education Officer and demanded a permanent hostel facility in Pamhed for girls studying in Classes 9 to 12.
Students Struggle to Reach School
The girls said that the absence of a hostel forces them to travel long distances every day under difficult conditions. At present, there is no permanent hostel facility in Pamhed for girls studying at the high school and higher secondary levels.
Students from nearby villages, including Kawargatta, Dharmaram, Jeedpalli, Sapad, Meenagatta, Udatmalla and Raspalli, reportedly have to walk around 15 to 20 kilometers daily to attend school.
Poor Roads Add to Students’ Problems
The students said there are no proper paved roads connecting many of the villages to the school. They have to travel through rough and difficult routes, making the daily journey particularly challenging.
According to the students, the long distance and poor road conditions often cause them to reach school late and return home late in the evening.
Education Being Affected
The students said the difficult commute is also affecting their education. Some parents are reportedly considering discontinuing their daughters’ education because of concerns related to safety, transportation and the long daily journey.
Some girls have already dropped out of school, according to local representatives.
“The girls face a lot of problems. We reach home around 7 or 8 p.m. We have been assured that an arrangement will be made by Monday or Tuesday,” said Tiramlgiri Satish, a resident of Pamhed.
Former Zila Panchayat Member Supports Demand
Former Zila Panchayat member Kamlesh Karam also accompanied the students to meet the District Education Officer. He described the issue as serious and called for a permanent solution.
“There are around 21 to 22 villages in the Pamhed area. Children do not have access to hostel facilities, because of which many have dropped out of school. Some students travel by bicycle, but the roads are not in good condition. Commuting from home is difficult and it is affecting their education,” said Kamlesh Karam, former Zila Panchayat member.
Karam said the administration needs to take immediate steps to ensure that the education of girls in the border region is not disrupted.
Administration Assures Alternative Arrangement
District Education Officer Rajesh Pandey said the administration has received the students’ application and that a request has been made for both a permanent hostel and an immediate alternative arrangement.
He said the matter would be brought to the attention of the District Collector and appropriate action would be taken.
The administration’s proposed interim arrangement is expected to provide some relief to the students until a permanent hostel facility is established.
