Read Correspondent
Babhni/Sonbhadra –
The patience of the villagers who had hopes from the government system under Babhni development block finally ran out. Let us tell you that despite repeatedly knocking on the doors of the authorities regarding the problem of the Ghaghri-Babhani road which has been in a dilapidated condition for years, when no concrete solution was found, the villagers decided to stop waiting for the government machinery and solve their problem themselves.
The villagers have started the road improvement work with public cooperation on this important route of Ghaghri Gram Panchayat. The condition of the road is so serious that traveling on the road during the rainy season is no less than a challenge for the villagers. It is worth noting that at many places, potholes, mud, waterlogging and bushes growing on the roadside are becoming hindrances in traffic.
Villagers say that this problem is not one or two years old but has been going on since the formation of Gram Sabha. More than half a dozen written complaints were given to the concerned authorities including the District Magistrate and the Public Works Department regarding the poor condition of the road, but there was no permanent solution to the problem.
The villagers did not limit themselves to just complaining. Protests were held in the month of June and Shramdaan was carried out in August and the voice of the poor condition of the roads was conveyed to the administration through various mediums including social media. Despite this the situation remained the same.
According to the information received, Umang Gupta proposed to find an immediate solution to the road problem through public cooperation between the villagers and public representatives. After consensus was reached on the proposal, Shomaru Prasad and Omprakash took the responsibility of this initiative and appealed to the villagers for cooperation, after that with the help of the villagers, JCB was launched on the road.
Villagers say that this work being done with public cooperation is not an alternative to government road construction, but is a step taken out of compulsion. When the government level did not solve the problem for years, the people of the village started making the road passable with their own efforts.
There is resentment among the villagers that they have to complain again and again for basic facilities like roads. He says that when the condition of the road worsens during the rainy season, the elderly, women, children, patients and people commuting for daily work face the most problems.
The villagers have clarified that the efforts being made with public cooperation are a result of their compulsion. Even after this, if the administration does not take the road problem seriously and timely action is not taken, then the villagers will be forced to adopt the path of widespread agitation. In this sequence, the villagers have even warned of boycotting the upcoming assembly elections.
Local people say that the villagers, who have been facing road problems for years, will no longer rely on mere assurances. If necessary, our voice for the road will be raised more strongly from village to administrative level.