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AP to TN: A risky journey for education

Students of Irrakum village of Nellore risk their lives every day in order to reach school at Sunnambagulam in Tamil Nadu. They cross the Pulicat Lake near the sea and the boat ride comes with many risks.

AP to TN: A risky journey for education

AP to TN: A risky journey for education

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Published : Sep 18, 2019, 5:48 PM IST

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh): Over 150 children of Irakkum, a village of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh take a dangerous boat ride every day to Tamil-medium schools at Sunnambagulam in Tamil Nadu.

Students risky ride in a boat to reach school

The students cross the choppy waters of Pulicat Lake near the sea and the boat ride comes with many risks. The children don't wear life jackets, their clothes get soaked in water and their books and notebooks also get wet. They sit on the edges of the boat throughout the long journey.

"It is difficult for us to travel to the school from our village, it gets even harder when it rains thus, we cannot attend school. Safer boat facilities are required as we travel for more than an hour, a student said.

"The fare should also be less as we cannot afford it." another student added.

Meanwhile, school teacher Kokiladevi said, "We have provided the students with life jackets and are teaching them swimming for safety. The students should follow the training and if there are proper drills or other safety measures it would be easier for them for travel."

On the other hand, Vasantharaj, another staff member said, "The students do not utilise the life jackets that we provide them, there is a lack of awareness despite repeated instructions."

'The boat driver also has an experience of 20-25 years, no unfortunate incident has occurred till now," he added.

Also, read: WATCH: TN Boy issued challan for riding bicycle without helmet!

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh): Over 150 children of Irakkum, a village of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh take a dangerous boat ride every day to Tamil-medium schools at Sunnambagulam in Tamil Nadu.

Students risky ride in a boat to reach school

The students cross the choppy waters of Pulicat Lake near the sea and the boat ride comes with many risks. The children don't wear life jackets, their clothes get soaked in water and their books and notebooks also get wet. They sit on the edges of the boat throughout the long journey.

"It is difficult for us to travel to the school from our village, it gets even harder when it rains thus, we cannot attend school. Safer boat facilities are required as we travel for more than an hour, a student said.

"The fare should also be less as we cannot afford it." another student added.

Meanwhile, school teacher Kokiladevi said, "We have provided the students with life jackets and are teaching them swimming for safety. The students should follow the training and if there are proper drills or other safety measures it would be easier for them for travel."

On the other hand, Vasantharaj, another staff member said, "The students do not utilise the life jackets that we provide them, there is a lack of awareness despite repeated instructions."

'The boat driver also has an experience of 20-25 years, no unfortunate incident has occurred till now," he added.

Also, read: WATCH: TN Boy issued challan for riding bicycle without helmet!

Intro:Body:

Usually government declares a variety of offers to children to send to school. But the students of Nellore district Tada Mandal Irakam Island students are not thinking of these things. They goto govt.school by travelling eight kilometers beyond the sea. Fishermen are eager to send their children to school, even though they are known it to be risk. They are crossing the Pulicat Lake near the sea. They are residence of Irakam island in AP, children are going to school at Tamil school near to Chennai. They are going to two public schools located in the village of Sunnambugolem in Tamil Nadu. A special article on the adventures of students by ETV.
V.O -1:
More than 150 students from the Nellore district's Tada Mandalam Irakom Island are on their way to Tamilnadu's Sunnambagulam schools for Tamil medium. To go this way, one has to cross the Pulicat Lake at sea. That is why they are going to school every day in a boat with no minimum protection. It shows fishermen's children and parents are how much interested on study. They are being transported in a boat that is known to be life threatening. There are two primary schools in the Nellore District Tada Mandal Irakam Island Panchayat. The teacher's reluctance to work here so they have been closed for some years. They continued with the academic volunteer classes for ten and a half years. The school was closed after a teacher transferred to another school. Even in our state, they want the Tamil medium to be teaching schools in the state of the AP. Unscrupulous fishermen are sending their children to two public schools in the Sunnambogolam in Tamil Nadu. More than 150 students from primary, elementary and junior colleges are traveling dangerously by boat. Unsafe travel. Children get wet, along with books if rain falls. Children are worried if it is overcast by 8 km from Irakom Island to Sunnambugolum on a boat. Lightning and thunderbolts tremble.
Every day there are heavy winds. 150 people board a boat of 20 people. The reason is that there is only one boat here. Also, it is not possible to bring students to school for a second time during the hour journey. This is why the boat turns into a floral plane. One by one the hikers sit. Parents instruct them bring their children home safely while the children are boating. In the evening, when the children reached their homes, it was a routine to watch. Children say they are traveling in a boat with fear. They are answering themselves they are not aware of swim but have to continue studies.
Byte: 1. Studets
V.O-2:
Tens of lives have been lost due to not taking care of the boat accident which occurred two days ago at Papikondalu in the Godavari River. Students who are travelling every day in the boat in Pulicat Lake not taking at least of the precautionary measures. It is difficult to swim in saltwater if there is an accident in the Pulicat Lake which is in the Bay of Bengal. Pulicat Lake is full of mud which is travelling way of boats. It's hard to swim. If the children get stuck in the mud, it is not possible to come out. Even a sailboat is not safe for students. An old-fashioned engine. If the engine stops in the middle there should be a second engine. Not here.
8km journey takes heavy winds in every day. If the boat is moved one side, there are no iron bars around to hold the students onboard. Live jackets given to the students by Tamil Nadu government were inundated. There are no equipment and kits in the boat to protect children in the event of an accident. There is only one person who runs the boat. The boatman has only experience of swimming but not life-saving technology. All these problems have caused the lives of 150 children to be turned into a lamp in the air. The problem is not solved by the two state governments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh not taking the issue seriously.
Byte: 2. Students
V.O-3:
The water in the Pulicat River is reduced. The boat did not arrive ashore. Students are forced to move within a kilometer. Putting books on the back of the sludge. Sandals in the other hand. The heart of a toddler should not be alarmed when he sees the plight of toddlers walking ashore in fear. Most of the students from one to fifth grade. There are many people who do not have life jackets and life bhai. The ones that exist are drowned out. Stitched. They all are from poor family but each student pays a boat charge of Rs. 150 per month.
Tamil Nadu government has reacted somewhat to the fact that they are coming to their area for study. The Tiruvallur collector boarded the boat and gave life jackets to some students. The government facilitated the van. Our state government has not responded in the least.
Byte: 3. Kokiladevi, Sunnambugolam Teacher
4. Vasantharaj, Sunnambugolam Teacher
The long-standing problem can be solved if our state government responds immediately. Teachers of Tamil medium should be established for the students of Irakom Island in our state. If state govt do it, fishermen not necessary to send their children to the state of Tamil Nadu. Protective boats should be installed. Hire skilled boat drivers.

Conclusion:

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Irrakum village of Nellore

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