The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has stepped in after learning that schoolchildren in Chhattisgarh are risking their lives to cross an incomplete bridge to attend classes. The commission has issued a notice to the state’s Chief Secretary, asking for answers about why children in Mainpur Block, Gariyaband district, must use a dangerous route every day.
The NHRC found the situation serious enough to act on its own, without waiting for a formal complaint, because it suggests possible violations of children’s basic rights.
What the situation involves
- Dozens of children from Khambhatha settlement and surrounding areas are forced to climb a narrow, slippery iron ladder attached to an incomplete bridge to cross the Pairi river on their way to school
- During the monsoon season, the shallow river becomes dangerous and fast-flowing
- A roughly 300-metre bridge connecting Deharguda and Khambhatha has remained incomplete for nearly six years
- Villagers were told the bridge would be finished within six months, but this promise was made only about a year ago, suggesting repeated delays
- The NHRC has given the Chhattisgarh government two weeks to submit a detailed report on the matter
What this means for you
If you live in or near Mainpur Block, this commission action may finally push authorities to complete the bridge or arrange an alternative safe route for children. The two-week deadline puts the state government under pressure to explain the long delays and show concrete plans to fix the problem. For families in the area, the NHRC’s involvement signals that the government cannot ignore infrastructure failures that put children at risk. The commission’s suo motu step, taken without a formal petition, shows it considers this a serious enough matter to demand immediate state action.