Udupi (Karnataka): Lack of mobile connectivity, power interruption, intense monsoon rains, and heavy expenses; amidst all these challenges, siblings Bhoomika and Bharat trek 300 meters uphill nearby their house to catch up with the online classes.
Bhoomika and Bharat are children of Gopalakrishna, a farmer at Idur Kunjwadi village in Byndoor taluk in Udupi district of Karnataka.
The siblings are studious with studies and they managed to secure seats in Jawahar Navodaya school while studying 5th standard in Kunjwagdi Government School.
Bhoomika is now in SSLC while Bharat is in 9th standard. After the schools were closed due to COVID19, the siblings are now pursuing their classes online but it has come with numerous problems for these children.
Gopalakrishna, the father of the children said that they have asked him to set up like a classroom in the house but mobile connectivity is a serious problem. Besides, there is a problem with frequent power interruptions too.
"So when we searched for a proper network, we found that it is better on the hilltop. We have set up a small hut with battery back up. Even then, there is a problem of mobile connectivity and they are not able to follow classes at times", he expressed his concern.
The children after finishing their morning breakfast trek 300 meters uphill in the Mookambika forest. They spend their day in the makeshift hut returning after their online classes post afternoon.
But the siblings say it becomes tasking as monsoon rains keep battering against their humble hut and mobile connectivity gets lost now and then.
Being poor, the parents have spent a fortune to ensure that their children catch up with their online classes.
"My father has spent huge money on all these, he had spent around 50,000 for mobile and battery", said Bhoomika.
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