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Sarthak Kanjilall & Vikramaditya
Kadamtala, November 03: Although the upgradation work for NH4 by NHIDCL has brought a great relief for the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands but for a Divyang girl of class XI, GSSS Kadamtala this work has brought bagful of troubles.
As per report Miss Lakshmi (Name Changed), a resident of Shantanu village, with walking disabilities, is presently struggling to go to her school due to the height of the drain constructed by the NH4 contractors in front of her house. For her this drain is nothing but a massive wall between her school and her deep desire to study like any other student of the region.
According to reports, the height of the drain is nearly one meter above the ground level, and hence, it is practically impossible for the 15-year-old Divyang Girl to cross the drain to reach the main road, without help of atleast two family members.
Also, the drain has been constructed in the entire village in such a way that no space was left for the residents, having house on the road side, to take auto or other vehicles infront of their house, for the convenience of old residents, children and even specially-abled people.
“Now we have to climb the drain and jump on the other side to reach our house. It is difficult even for a normal person then just think about the divyang child,” said a resident of the village.
Now everyday her parents have to make themselves available to carry their daughter home and also while dropping her till the main road.
“Earlier auto-rickshaws used to pick and drop my daughter at the doorsteps of the house, which they are unable to do now because there is no space left by the contractor for the vehicles,” said Mr. Dilip Kumar, the father of the divyang student.
The parents of the divyang student have already requested the NH4 contractor to either reduce the height of the drain in a small stretch or to leave a space for auto or other vehicles to enter but the contractors have refused to do so. The parents allege that in some places such adjustments have been done by the contractors in Kadamtala and other regions but in their case, even after seeing the condition of the divyang girl the contractors have refused to help.
The clear insensitivity on the part of contractors, in the construction of the said drain doesn’t end here, the contractor reportedly has not filled earth on both sides of the drain as a result of which crossing the drain has become too risky for people.
Due to unavailability of any senior officers of NHIDCL at Port Blair a comment from the side of NHIDCL could not be taken immediately. However Andaman Sheekha will certainly take up the matter with the DC of North and Middle Andaman and also senior officials of NHIDCL so that the divyang girl gets some relief and she don’t have to depend on others to reach her school.
