BERHAMPUR: For the children of Kharakharia village under Chikiti Assembly segment in Ganjam district, reaching school is a herculean task that has to be undertaken on a daily basis.
The village, inhabited by 120 families and represented by State Skill Development and Technical Education Minister and Chikiti legislator Usha Devi, does not have a concrete approach road. The nearest school is located at Samantiapalli village under Patrapur block via Maisanpur-Kelua. The village is 3 km from Samantiapalli. While there is a concrete road of 2 km from Samantiapalli to Banasula, the rest 1 km stretch from Banasula to Kharkharia, located on the border of Chikiti and Patrapur block, is fraught with danger.
Over 50 children studying in the school undertake the treacherous journey on the muddy 1 km stretch. The others who do not wish to take risks prefer to take a 14 km route to reach Samantiapalli market. The villagers said the muddy stretch of road, which gets worse during monsoon, comes under two blocks and despite repeated appeals, construction of a concrete road is yet to be taken up.Meanwhile, sources said the local legislator has assured that all approach roads to the village would be concretised soon.