The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh over a media report highlighting the risks faced by school students while crossing the Betwa River in Vidisha district. Taking suo motu cognizance of the report, the NHRC said that students from Kakraua village are risking their lives by hopping across check dam pillars to reach their school.

The students reportedly take this dangerous route as it reduces the distance from around 13 kilometres by road to just one-and-a-half kilometres. The Commission observed that the lack of a safe mode of transport for the children to reach school amounts to a negation of their fundamental right to education with dignity. The NHRC has sought a detailed report on the matter from the chief secretary within two weeks.