Every monsoon, Kodagu finds itself trapped in the same cycle – rains begin, roads flood, and schools are abruptly closed. But as concerned citizens, we must ask: are sudden holiday declarations the only solution? Or is it time the district administration focused on developing basic infrastructure that can withstand the monsoon’s yearly visit?
It has become almost a seasonal ritual in Kodagu. Clouds gather, a few forecasts are aired, and the district administration rushes to declare a holiday. At times, this happens when there’s barely a drizzle. Sometimes, the announcement comes after school children have already left home, leaving both students and parents confused. The inconsistency and lack of planning behind these decisions raise serious concerns.
Why does the administration repeatedly resort to declaring holidays instead of addressing the root causes? True, Kodagu’s monsoons are intense, and its topography makes certain areas vulnerable. But if that is the case, shouldn’t we have stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, and preparedness protocols in place – rather than using holiday declarations as a lazy safety net?
Declaring holidays should be a last resort, not the default response. Children’s education, parents’ schedules, and public confidence are all affected when decisions are made abruptly or unnecessarily. Moreover, repeated disruptions lead to a casual attitude among students towards school attendance, especially in rural areas.
Instead of reactive holidays, what we need is proactive governance. If the government genuinely prioritizes student safety, it must focus on infrastructure improvements – better roads, bridges, and culverts; removal of hazardous roadside trees; and increased bus services during the monsoon. Rainfall predictions are often inaccurate, and frequent holidays disrupt learning. It’s time the government reconsidered its approach and prioritized education. Perhaps school managements could be empowered to make holiday decisions during heavy rains, under proper guidelines and oversight.
Much of the disruption we see – waterlogging, school transport issues, unsafe travel – is not because of rain itself, but because of neglected infrastructure. Poorly maintained roads, many with deep potholes or broken surfaces, become impassable during heavy rain. Culverts and drains, left clogged through the dry months, overflow with even moderate showers, flooding roads and homes. These are not natural disasters; they are man-made failures – failures that can be prevented with timely action.
Kodagu’s terrain will always present challenges – but challenges are best met with planning, not panic. Kodagu deserves better. Our people are strong. Our children are smart. Our land is resilient. It’s time the administration matched that spirit with sound planning. Let us not wait for the next emergency to act. Let us build a district where rain doesn’t stop learning, and holidays are planned – not panicked.
North Kodagu remains backward and far less developed as compared to the rest of the district. Schools are run quite unsatisfactorily and children going to Madikeri often walk by foot, as the transport is totally inadequate. The state of the roads and bridges is very bad.
The lack of proper educational facilities results in massive school dropouts and eventually the area is bereft of menfolk as they take up employment as retail salesmen, security guards (gunmen) and in Bars. The girls could easily be provided practical skills in Tailoring, train to become Nurses and also join the teaching profession. We need more determined development in this area to stop the sale of ancestral land and loss of our proud ancestory.
Mamatha Subbaiah’s posts are admirable – writes from her heart and on issues that really matter for the District.
In this instance, the somewhat uncoordinated efforts of the District Administration’s over zealous declaration of holidays is a dampener on educational upbringing of children. Our parents generation “lived” with the phenomenon of heavy rains in the most routine and matter-of-fact manner.
Next comes the quality of roads and bridge ie; infrastructure. The sad truth is that Kodagu’s roads for the density of traffic, is woefully inadequate. Many of the roads and bridges were initially built by the British over a century ago (not out of charity, but for their exploitation of the riches the land offered). These road have at best been expanded to double lane – but is woefully inadequate for the high vehicle movement. Uncontrolled and irresponsible tourism is to blame too. The development of infrastructure in Kodagu post 1956 is quite deplorable compared with other places like Mangalore, Udupi, Hassan and so on. This “select” negligence shows.