“We Just Want a Road to School”: UP Children March 5 Km to DM’s Office, Internet Rallies Behind Them

On Tuesday, schoolchildren of Hamirpur walked almost 5 km with the Tricolour flag to the district Collectorate demanding for a permanent road between their villages and school. The unusual protest has since garnered social media attention, with users and activists supporting the children's call for basic school infrastructure.

Children and their parents and villagers from Chandupur and the surrounding villages reported that approximately 1.5 km of the path is not paved. The section is said to become deep mud and slush during the rainy season, making the trip to school a daily struggle and hazardous.

Students reported that they often slip on the way to school and villagers also face problems in carrying patients to hospitals. The road is said to be used by approximately 3,000 people.

The children are calling for action from Hamirpur DM

The children went to the Collectorate to meet the District Magistrate Abhishek Goel. Police and officials were seen trying to disperse the group from the main entrance in videos from the protest. Protesters continued to stay outside for almost four hours, with some children later being allowed to meet officials, Amar Ujala reported.

At another bizarre moment, one official was reportedly spotted asking some kids to recite grammar and multiplication tables as they continued to call for action on the road.

A proposal to construct ₹1.81 crore of roads is pending

As per reports, the villagers said that the road problem had been brought up with the authorities several times. A temporary solution was once to dump soil on sections of the route, but the rain again made the route muddy.

The Forest Department has issued the necessary NOC and the PWD has prepared a road construction proposal worth ₹1.81 crore, officials said. The plan has been submitted to the government for approval and work is set to commence once it is approved. The road is not yet constructed

Children's protest goes viral

The schoolchildren's march with the Tricolour has been widely shared on social media and has garnered support from social media users and activists who have supported the demand. The protest has brought a fundamental issue of basic education to the fore: How can children get to school safely when the road to their classroom is blocked during the rainy season?

The solution for these students from Hamirpur was to walk 5 km to the district administration and ask them to provide a permanent road so that children can study and grow.