During the monsoon season, teachers from the Balrampur area in Chhattisgarh face an extremely arduous journey daily to get to their school. This route involves traversing three kilometers of rough terrain and crossing a raging river.
This concerns the primary school in the village of Dhaurpur, which is part of the Vadkhurnagar block. During the rains, the road to the village changes, requiring them to cross the confluence of the Moran and Iria rivers. A crossing is possible when the water level is low, but it becomes impassable as the water rises.
Teacher Sandhya Haldar recounts parking her scooter in the Marna area, after which she has to walk about three kilometers along a rocky and uneven road. However, the main difficulty begins further on—a river lies ahead of her.
Sandhya often crosses the river while carrying her nine-month-old daughter. When the water level is low, it is easier to pass, but as the water rises, the situation becomes frightening. Sandhya notes that during the crossing, the water sometimes reaches waist or stomach level, making movement with a child in arms very difficult. She admits that she herself trembled, and her concern was not only for her safety but also for the students waiting for her at school.
In Sandhya's opinion, it is very distressing for her when she cannot get to school because it affects the children's education. For these students, attending school is not just a teacher's professional duty, but the entire process of receiving an education. Sandhya emphasizes that the children are happy to see her, despite the dangerous journey the adult undertakes.
Another teacher, Karmala Toppo, who has been working at this school since 2014, takes a similar difficult route. She also parks her scooter in Marna, walks about three kilometers, and then crosses the river. Karmala finds crossing the river frightening. Nevertheless, if the water level is too high, the risk is not taken, and they have to return, meaning the decision to attend school depends not only on the time but also on the river's water level.
The Dhaurpur area changes drastically during the rainy season. The road that could be traversed normally becomes difficult. On one side is about three kilometers of rocky path, on the other is the river, and between them is the responsibility of getting to school. For Sandhya, this responsibility is complicated by the presence of her nine-month-old daughter, making the river crossing both a necessary necessity and a risk.
This story reflects not only the daily efforts of the two teachers but also raises the question of the difficulties educators face to ensure access to education in remote parts of the country.
When the Balrampur collector, Chandan Sanjay Tripathi, learned about this situation, he highly praised the dedication of the teachers. The collector stated that he learned about a teacher who crosses the river with a small child during the rainy season and walks about three kilometers to school. He commended her hard work and devotion, stating that respecting such educators is the pride of the entire district.
Unlike city dwellers who have transport options such as buses, cars, or auto-rickshaws, these two teachers in Chhattisgarh face a river that they must cross. Sandhya Haldar carries her nine-month-old daughter, and the same river stands before Karmala Toppo. Both have to walk about three kilometers on a rocky road. The only difference is that for them, this is not a one-time challenge, but a daily commute during the rainy season, for which they must reach the school and teach the children.