Gua, Jharkhand : In what can only be described as a shocking indictment of governance in 21st-century India, children from Lembra village in the Naxal-affected Saranda region of Jharkhand risk their lives every day just to attend school. With no bridge, no boat, and no safety measures in place, the overflowing Koyna River has turned into a river of death, cutting off the village from the rest of the world.
“Sending children to school here is like sending them to their death,” says Shambhu Paswan, former district councillor of Noamundi. And he’s not exaggerating.
Drowning in Neglect
The monsoon fury has transformed Koyna into a wild torrent. Yet, every morning, dozens of innocent schoolchildren wade through its gushing waters, clinging to survival and hope. The river separates Lembra from the Manoharpur-Badjamda main road, isolating the village during rains and turning it into a virtual island of despair.
There is no bridge. No raft. No emergency support. What exists is a trail of unfulfilled promises, dusty files in government offices, and hollow slogans like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” and “Har Bachcha School Jaaye”. The harsh truth? These children want to learn, but their path to education is life-threatening.
A Humanitarian Crisis, Not Just Inconvenience
The lack of infrastructure has spiraled into a full-blown humanitarian crisis. Pregnant women die without reaching hospitals. The sick are left untreated. Even ration supplies can’t reach the village. During the rains, Lembra is completely cut off, and yet, no permanent solution has been implemented.
Locals like Munda Lebeya Devgam and Devendra Champiya recount how they have been demanding a bridge for years, only to be met with lip service. Former MP Geeta Koda even crossed the river on foot during a dry season and ordered a survey. That survey, however, never turned into steel or cement.
Political Promises, Administrative Apathy
BJP leader and former councillor Shambhu Paswan lashed out at current MP Joba Majhi and MLA Sonaram Sinku, accusing them of ignoring multiple applications and pleas. He called it not just administrative negligence but social injustice.
“Is this what Jharkhand’s development model looks like? Waiting hours for a sack of rice, and letting children gamble with death just to study?” he asked bitterly.
Demands for Urgent Action
- The villagers are now demanding immediate intervention from the state government and district administration:
- Construction of a permanent bridge over the Koyna River.
- Provision of safe boats or transport for school-going children until the bridge is built.
- Temporary medical camps, ration distribution centers, and relief support in the village during the monsoon.
- An emergency inspection by Deputy Commissioner Chandan Kumar to assess the situation firsthand.
As torrential rains continue and government silence lingers, Lembra’s children continue to walk through death’s door each day — not in search of adventure, but for an education. The question now is: Will the state finally listen before a tragedy forces it to act?
