Sendhwa (Madhya Pradesh): Hundreds of students of Eklavya Adarsh Residential School in Jamli walked nearly 10 kilometres on Monday to meet Barwani Collector Jayati Singh, turning their grievances over school facilities and alleged harassment into an unusual march for action.
The students had set out determined to place their concerns directly before the collector. They alleged lack of basic facilities at the residential school and harassment involving casteist slurs.
As word of the march reached the administration, Sendhwa SDM Ashish, SDOP Ajay Waghmare, tehsildar Hitendra Bhavsar and other officials rushed to meet the students. They spoke to them and tried to persuade them to stop their journey.
The students, however, remained firm. They said they wanted the collector herself to hear what they were facing at the school.
With the children continuing their walk, the administration arranged medical and security support.
A health department team examined the students and made first aid available, while police personnel from Sendhwa Rural and Nagalwadi police stations accompanied them.
Their persistence eventually brought the collector to them. Singh reached near Julwania, where she met the students after they had covered about 10 kilometres.
The collector heard their grievances on the spot and assured them that their concerns would be addressed. She also spoke about constituting an investigation committee and taking appropriate action on the basis of its findings.
According to the students, Singh gave a written assurance that their problems would be resolved within two days.
The march, which began with students leaving their residential school to seek a hearing, ended with their concerns reaching the district administration directly and an assurance of investigation and action.
