14-year-old boy swims 2 miles every day to go to school demands a 700m bridge to be built

Where in the world will you get a 14-year old ninth class student, who had been swimming to go to his school every day for the last 10 days from his village and requests the government to build a bridge?

Arjun Santhosh,  from Kerala’s perumbalam village in Allappey district, is very fit and leaves home in the morning like any other student wearing his uniform and carrying a bag, and unlike others, he also wears a swimsuit and water goggles. While others wait for a boat to ferry them across, he leaps into the Vembanaad waters swimming 2 miles to his school in Poothotta. He has been swimming to his school demanding a bridge for his small village Perumbalam, as the boats are too small and too slow. Boats often arrive late and children get punished at school for being late. The Perumbalam is home for over 10, 000 people.

His villagers were protesting and demanding for a small 700-metre bridge, for the last 25 years has gone to deaf years.

Transportation is a major problem  as over 50 people died due to medical emergencies as help could  not reach the needy on time. A person was bitten by a snake and antidote could not be injected on time as it took over one-half hours to reach the mainland, according to Abilash a local resident.

Rather than listen the plight of the villagers the Collector R Girija sent the boy an enforcement notice, asking him to witdraw for the protest immediately and stop swimming to school. According to her “ He is a minor and it is dangerous to swim in this rainy season. If something tragic happens we would be held responsible for not stopping him. Hence, we decided to send him a notice.”

According to Shobhana Chakrapani, a Panchayat member, “ yes a bridge is absolutely necessary here as we have only six small boats which are already in a poor state.”