Residents of villages under Sadlichak panchayat of Harichandrapur in Malda district have stopped sending their children to schools in the past few days.

The unique protest has been launched because their demand for constructing a bridge over a stream has not been met.

Villages Suryapura, Timirpura, Basudebpur, Sikhatola and Imamnagar with a total population of around 10,000 are under Sadlichak.

All the villagers have to cross the Jalan stream of the Bhagirathi river every day. Even now, they are dependent on a bamboo bridge to reach the other side.

“Thousands of people, including school students, cross the stream every day. We have been demanding a permanent bridge for the past two-three decades but no initiative has been taken till now. Ambulance and other vehicles cannot reach our villages. We have to carry patients in cots and stretchers to reach the other side,” said Nurul Hasan, a resident.

According to the villagers, ahead of the panchayat elections, a number of elected representatives of Trinamul, including ministers and prominent leaders, had assured them that after the elections, construction of the bridge would start.

“We were also told that funds have been allocated for the project. However, nothing has been done so far and our problem continues to be same. That is why residents of all the villages have decided not to send their children to schools,” said Tanzara Khatun, a Class VII student.

According to her, a number of children have suffered injuries by slipping into the stream from the bamboo bridge. “It is true that our studies have got affected . But if a permanent bridge is not built, any of us might face a major accident on any day,” she added.

There are three schools on the other side of the stream, a Sishu Siksha Kendra, a primary school and a junior high school.

“The schools are open but none of the students have turned up over past few days. We have spoken to local people and they have mentioned that unless work for the bridge starts in the area, they will not sent their children to the school,” said a teacher of the junior high school.

Such an offbeat protest by the residents has also nudged the administration.

“A discussion has already been held with representatives of the zilla parishad to build the bridge on the stream. Soon, the project plan will be ready after which, necessary steps would be taken to expedite the construction,” said Kaushik Bhattacharya, DM, Malda.