Indian Man Carves Road Through Hills So Children Can Attend School

Jan 12, 2018

Jalandhar Nayak lives in a remote eastern Indian village and has single-handedly carved a five-mile (8km) road through hilly terrain to help his children attend school. His three sons used to take about three hours each way to cross the narrow, rocky path between home and school, so something needed to change.

“My children found it hard to walk on the narrow and stony path while going to their school. I often saw them stumbling against the rocks and decided to carve a road through the mountain so that they can walk more easily,” he told News World Odisha.

Jalandhar only used a chisel, hoe and pickaxe to dig the route, which has now been taken over by city officials who plan to reimburse him for all of his hard work. 

“The district collector has assured me [he will] complete the construction of the road to my village,” Nayak said.

The family are the only remaining residents of Gumsahi, while the rest of the village have left for areas with better roads and amenities.

Nayak had planned to work for another three years to build the remaining four miles (7km) required to complete the road, but now he can rest and enjoy the fruits of his labor and know that his children can get to school much easier :)

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