Students in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, protested on Tuesday demanding construction of a road to help them reach school. Accompanied by parents and villagers, they walked about five kilometres and staged a sit-in outside the district collectorate. The demonstrators called for a paved road connecting their village toward Hamirpur from Chandupur.

The students said no paved road has been built for their village since India’s independence. During the monsoon, the unpaved route is submerged, forcing pupils to cross mud and water to attend school. They said the conditions dirty uniforms, damage shoes and make travel difficult. Protesters also claimed that one student had to leave school because of the lack of a road.

Carrying posters with slogans demanding construction of the Chandupur-Hamirpur road, the protesters highlighted difficulties faced by farmers, students and sick people. SDM Abhishek Kumar and a circle officer held discussions with students and parents. The protest was withdrawn after officials assured them that road work would begin quickly. Abhijit Deep, founder of the Gen Z group Cockroach Janata Party, praised the movement.