When written appeals get lost in the mountains of red tape, one has to resort to drum beats to awaken the system's inaction. In Pauri, the picture of administrative insensitivity was revealed when students from B.R. Modern School came to the Forestry Department office with drums and percussion instruments to express their protest.
The children's demand was simple: to immediately remove the dangerous trees that threaten life on the way to school.
The situation is related to old and dangerous spruce trees located on the school route. According to the school administration, they had appealed to the authorities and administration over the past year, submitting written complaints to all levels—from the Cabinet of Ministers to district officials and the Forestry Department. However, bureaucracy continued, and even after 12 months, officials did not react to the problem. As a result, the children, fearing for their lives, were forced to take charge of the protest.
Following the unusual performance by the children and the sound of drums, Forestry Department employees backed down and provided explanations. According to DFO Mahatim Yadav, the disputed trees are on the land of the polytechnic college and fall within the old boundaries of the forest community. This caused delays in obtaining permits (NOC) and completing departmental procedures. Officials now claim that all necessary formalities have been completed, and the trees will be cut down within the next one or two days.
