(Image source from: spiderimg.amarujala.com)

Shobhram peddled his cycle carrying his son from his village Baydipur in Dhar district to Dhar town as no public transport is available due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

A 38-year-old man, Shobhram, ferried his son a bicycle to his class 10 board’s supplementary examination center which is 105 km away from his house in Baydipur village in Dhar district.

He reportedly covered the 105 km distance in 8 hours on August 17. Due to the current lockdown in Madhya Pradesh, there was no public transport available in the Dhar district due to which the man had to struggle.

While talking about his arduous journey to media Shobhram said that it was difficult but he had no other option. He wanted his son to get educated and for that, he worked as a laborer, earned money, and filled up his son’s Class 10 supplementary form.

He also said that both of them started the journey on August 17 and carried some food with them to eat in the meanwhile.

His son, Ashish wants to become an officer and because the buses are not operating they had to come by bicycle.

The class 10 board’s supplementary exams are being conducted by the Madhya Pradesh government under the ‘Ruk Jana Nahin’ scheme. Students are given a chance to qualify in those subjects which they could not clear in the first attempt.

The Dhar district administration upon hearing the news took the matter into their hands and made necessary arrangements for the father and son for their stay and food in a tribal hostel till August 24.

The Tribal Development Department’s assistant commissioner Brajesh Kumar said that the department will also make necessary arrangements for their return journey and would not allow them to go back home on a bicycle.

Dhar district collector Alok Singh said that, if Shobhram had spoken to the authorities, travel arrangements would have been made for the son for his exam as many private vehicles are plying.

Moreover, he said that it is appreciable that Shobhram is interested in getting his son educated and he will be given all the help he is eligible for.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath praised the efforts of Shobhram and demanded the state government to make necessary arrangements related to transport for all those students appearing for supplementary exams.

He also wished Shobhram’s son for a bright future ahead.

By Gayatri Yellayi