Reshma Ravishanker
A decade long dream of a government school to be established in his village has been realised for a student in Sengalaneerodai in the district of Ramanathapuram. Even as he is set to pass out of school in some months now, Kavikannan is much relieved that many children in his village will have access to education as his fight has led to the establishment of a government school here.
Walking 14 kilometres a day, through rough patches of the road had Kavikannan take up a battle to have a school established in the vicinity to help many others like him in the village. Letters after letters, meetings and several petitions later, this class 12 student’s village is all set to get a school.
“Monsoons were the worst. By the time we reached school, books would get drenched, often washing out crucial class notes. Life was not easy and I am extremely happy that not just me, but the children from my villages- all of them came together and gave me strength,” Kavikannan said.
The struggle began in 2011 when Kavikannan raised a petition to the district collector, requesting a school in his village. The letter entailed his plight and that of several children who had to travel over 6 kilometres every day each way to access education. Students in small batches would walk along the coastline, unmindful of the weather to be able to reach school every day.
His parents stood by him in his battle and not later, the community also took his cause and turned it into a concern that represented a greater cause.
“We made representations to consecutive governments and local bodies but in vain. It took us a long time to finally get a nod,” he recollected. In his support were Child Rights and You (CRY) along with the project partner Rural Workers Development Society picked up his cause and moulded it into a powerful advocacy call.
In 2012, a public hearing comprising parents, community members, village leaders, NCPCR representatives, High court advocates and a journalist gave the verdict in favour of the appeal made by Kavikannan.
In 2013-14, the petition was further escalated to the NCPCR, 2015 a Public Interest Litigation was placed before the Madras High Court(Madurai Branch) whose verdict was in favour of establishing a school in the area. A year later, CRY met with Education Minister K A Sengottaiya. “After facing many hurdles because of the pandemic, it is finally sanctioned,” Kavikannan said.
At present, the school will benefit 25 students of which there are 12 boys 13 girls between the ages of 6-10.
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