BELAGAVI: Around 100 SSLC students of Khanapur are forced to commute to Goa and Maharashtra borders ahead of exams due to lack of internet connectivity in their villages, nestled in thick forests along the Western Ghats.
As no telecom operators offer service in these 10 villages, the children travel up to 12km every day to reach hilly areas in neighbouring states. They sit atop hillocks, smartphones, textbooks and notebooks in hand, jotting down key points to prepare for the exam.
Datta Gayakwad’s niece walks about 8km along with her father, carrying books in one bag and food in the other, to a hill located in Sattari district in Goa. Children from other villages — Maan, Sada, Huland, Parawad, Chugle and Chikale for instance — go to Surla, on foot or bicycle. “It’s an arduous task for the children who are already under pressure due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic,” says Gayakwad.
Kids: Have to travel through forest routes
From Kanakumbi and Jamboti too, some 60 SSLC students go to Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. They start from home early in the morning, spend the day in studies and return home around 5pm.
“We have no option but to travel every day as we have no network. My friends and I have to travel through forest routes to reach a hill station with connectivity and we are afraid of animals attacking us,” said Nagesh Sutar, an SSLC student. “Although there is a BSNL tower in Kanakumbi, where I stay, due to power disruption we face huge inconvenience.”
Khanapur MLA Anjali Nimbalkar said she has brought the plight of the children to the notice of the education minister and is expecting a speedy solution.
Belagavi DDPI Dr H Pundalik said earlier, teachers were reaching students in these villages but the practice was halted due to lockdown in the second wave.
“We will now make some arrangements for all such students to assemble in one place,” he said.
