Joda, June 17: A demand has been raised for providing transportation facilities to students in the Joda block of Keonjhar district, where many children are compelled to travel long distances for their education. Due to the lack of bus services, several students have to walk to their schools every day.
Although government provisions exist to provide transport assistance to eligible students, many students in the region continue to be deprived of these benefits. According to Letter No. 1991 issued by the School and Mass Education Department of the Odisha Government on February 25, 2019, transportation or escort facilities should be provided to students whose homes are located beyond 1 km from a primary school and beyond 3 km from an upper primary or secondary school. These rules have been in force since 2019.
However, eligible students in Joda block have reportedly not received these benefits. Seeking implementation of the scheme from the beginning of the current academic year, Dambarudhar Kudada, Zilla Parishad Member of Zone No. 28, has submitted a written appeal to the Chief Minister.
In his letter, Kudada stated that students attending Gugudari Government Primary School, Jamukundia Primary School, Kanupur Government Primary School, and Putugaon Government Primary School are among those deprived of the transportation benefits. He further noted that students in several other parts of Joda block are also not receiving the government assistance meant for them.
He additionally pointed out that government guidelines provide for financial assistance, based on attendance, to students who travel more than 3 km to reach their schools. However, according to him, these provisions have not been effectively implemented in Joda block. He urged the government to ensure that eligible students receive the transportation and financial support to which they are entitled.
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