UDAIPUR
: Roads are traditionally named after historical figures, war heroes, political leaders and those who have made a difference to our life and society. But in a new initiative, the panchayat samitis of
Nagaur
district have decided to dispense with this convention and promote the education of the girl child.
This has come as a huge surprise for the likes of Divya Sharma, Khushbu Rathore, Ghazal Bhatesar,
Pooja Choudhary
and Komal Prajapat who now find the lanes in their villages named after them.
The Nagaur district administration undertook the project under the 'Raasta Kholo Abhiyan' and, recently,opened up 38 disputed roads for the public after renaming them with names of girl students who performed well in examinations. There are over 500 such roads that are either lying closed or have been obstructed by influential people of the area for decades in the district. All these roads are in villages. The administration has now chalked up a plan to clear such obstructions or encroachment and free the path for public movement.
Divya Sharma, a state-level hockey player and a Class 10 topper who scored 97% this year, hails from Kuchera in Mundwa tehsil and now has a lane named after her. “It was really a surprise for our family when we were informed in the morning that there would be a 'Gaurav Path' after Divya's name. This is a real motivation not only for my daughter but for hundreds of other girls in the district who would be inspired to perform well and attain higher levels of education,” said Divya's father Raghu Nandan Sharma to TOI. Divya, who has participated five consecutive state-level hockey championships, too is elated.
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