Ironically, roads are turning major roadblocks for the study of the young girls who perforce travel several kilometers on foot to reach schools and do the same on their way back home. Many girls get dropped from schools on account of the problem. Attending college after intermediate is beyond the scope of many since travelling 25 kms daily from their villages to Haridwar when there is hardly anything to take them to the main road is a herculean task. It is a pity that nearly 8000 villagers from Nalowala, Peeli Padav and Tatwala of the district are bereft of such basic facility of road access to the main roads.
Notably, over 125 students from the three adjoining villages-Nalowala, Peeli Padav and Tatwala- go to the high schools after covering six kms on foot to reach the main road to avail public transport. Sometimes, they cover the entire stretch of 12 kms on foot. Many get hold of tempos which are always overloaded, putting their lives to risk.
Neha Walia and Meeta from Tatwala village sound eager to pursue higher education after clearing their class 10 examinations this year. However, they say they are doubtful whether things would be possible as the colleges either in Haridwar or Kotdwar are 25 to 45 kms away from their villages.
Sounding sad over her inability to pursue higher education, Neha said while talking to The Pioneer, “During my 10th class, we used to return after covering some distance when it rained heavily as vehicles were unavailable with the roads being waterlogged.
Now my parents say I should learn cycling. But would I have any energy left in me after I cycle over 20 kms to reach the institutionIJ”
The former gram pradhan of Peeli Padav village Poonam Jhandwal said they had done their best to have the problem solved.
“We wrote to the PWD officials several times. Surveys were undertaken too. But things have remained the same,” she said.
Asked about the alleged apathy on the part of PWD on the matter, executive engineer PWD, Shrikant Sharma said, “We have sent the road construction proposal to the state government. As soon as the budget is sanctioned, we would start the works.”