NHRC notice to Government of Gujarat over the media report about children swimming across bridgeless river to reach school (20.8.2014)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 20th August, 2014
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that in absence of a bridge, about 125 students of five villages in District Chhota Udepur, Gujarat have to swim across the Hiran river to go to their government school in Utavadi Village in Tilakwada Taluka of District Narmada. The villagers have been requesting for construction of a bridge over the river for a very long time but in vain. The report carries a photograph also of the children swimming across the river.
The Commission has observed that the content of the press report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of right to life of the children who swim across the river and the right to education of those who are not able to go to school due to this problem. Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat calling for a report within four weeks.
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New Delhi, 20th August, 2014
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that in absence of a bridge, about 125 students of five villages in District Chhota Udepur, Gujarat have to swim across the Hiran river to go to their government school in Utavadi Village in Tilakwada Taluka of District Narmada. The villagers have been requesting for construction of a bridge over the river for a very long time but in vain. The report carries a photograph also of the children swimming across the river.
The Commission has observed that the content of the press report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of right to life of the children who swim across the river and the right to education of those who are not able to go to school due to this problem. Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat calling for a report within four weeks.
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