The Bombay High Court, Aurangabad bench, has taken a compassionate stance to assist the residents of Bhiw Dhanora village in overcoming the perilous journey across the snake-infested waters of the Jaikwadi dam reservoir, which they must undertake to access schools and essential facilities.
In response to a newspaper report published on August 27 by the Times of India, a division bench comprising Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and YG Khobragade initiated a suo motu case. The report shed light on the daily plight of 15 children from Bhiw Dhanora village, who had been compelled to travel to school while sitting on makeshift thermocol rafts across the Jaikwadi dam reservoir.
Amicus curiae advocate Pushkar Shendurnikar, who visited the area firsthand before presenting his case, apprised the Court of the students’ predicament and the village’s overall challenges.
Taking these observations into account, the Court issued a directive on Monday, compelling the Aurangabad district collector to promptly provide the village with a suitable boat, preferably two, complete with trained operators within 12 hours.
The Court specified that these boats should be primarily employed to ferry school children to their educational institutions. Moreover, during non-school hours, they can be utilized to transport the elderly, unwell individuals, and pregnant women to the nearest medical facilities. The Court clarified that the boats should be accessible around the clock, as they could be indispensable during unforeseen medical emergencies, even in the middle of the night.
The Court also expressed its admiration for the “unprecedented gesture” made by amicus Shendurnikar, who personally ventured to the Jayakwadi Dam backwaters, boarded a thermocol raft, and journeyed alongside a parent of one of the school-going girls. This first-hand experience enabled him to comprehend the arduousness of traveling through the backwaters to reach the school. The Court commended Shendurnikar for this remarkable effort in its order dated September 11.
Furthermore, the Court lauded the determination and resolve displayed by the village’s children, who hail from farming families, in their pursuit of education despite the daily risks they faced. The judges acknowledged the inherent danger to their lives, yet praised their commitment to education, especially the girl students who often face increased dropout rates as they grow older.
“It is an everyday threat to life. These children deserve compliments for undertaking such a journey twice a day for the last more than 12 months. We all are aware of the number of girl students in schools, and as these girls grow up, there is a rise in the number of dropouts from schools for various reasons. Despite such a situation, the students as well as their parents have shown the urge and determination to pursue education for the children,” stated the Court.