Ludhiana, July 23 -- Despite the state education minister's claim last year to expand the 'Nawiyan Rahan' transport project to Ludhiana, students living near the dense Mattewara forest still walk dangerous paths daily to attend school. Without any government-provided transportation, children from Gari Fazil, Gari Sheru, and Gari Togar villages trek or cycle over 3.5 km through muddy, wildlife-filled forest trails to reach Government Senior Secondary School, Kadiana Kalan and Government High School (GHS), Mattewara.

In Patiala, the pilot phase of the Nawiyan Rahan project, which offered e-rickshaw rides to school, showed positive results like improved attendance and student safety, as per the state education minister. But in Mattewara, th...