Traffic jam near Gandhi school

It is disheartening to note that from the day Gandhi School in Ancol, North Jakarta, was reopened on July 19, 1999 -- after about two and half months of long vacation -- school children, along with their parents, have faced the traumatic experience of enduring traffic congestion for hours just to enter or leave the school.

This is caused by the closure of all roads and entrances leading to the school by residents of the area. With only one gate open both for vehicles entering and leaving the school, just to reach the school from the gate -- which is situated only about 100 meters from the school -- takes almost an hour.

It is high time the residents understood the plight of the children and allowed at least one more gate to open to reduce this traffic congestion. Because of this factor, either children and parents have to get up very early in the morning, resulting in reaching the school very early, or get stuck in a traffic jam for hours, reaching the school very late.

The residents of the area have closed the roads as their own movement is restricted, due to the movement of large numbers of vehicles during school hours. But at least on humanitarian grounds they should consider sharing the problems of the children as if they were their own children, including the tiny ones attending kindergarten classes. I trust the residents will help the others without selfishness for this noble cause. God will bless those who help others selflessly.

V.N. MURTHY

Jakarta