|
For ages the
Madalgre village and its adjoining area in West Garo Hills has
remained cut off – the opportunity that most enjoyed, they never
availed. They had no road. Now, a 9 kilometre stretch road from
Chinabat joins this village, situated at a hill top – at an
altitude of about 1400 metre from the sea level.
 The
construction of the road has been implemented by the people of
Chinabat Cluster. The cluster formed under the West Garo Hills
Community Resource Management Society, WGHCRMS (North East
Community Resource Management Society/NEC/International Fund For
Agricultural Development).
The villages
involved in the construction are Chinabat, Silchitchogre,
Chiwatgre, Bandigre, and Rongkingre. The execution of work
started in November 2006 under SGRY scheme and funds were
released by District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Tura. The
sheer will power and the drive of the people resulted in the
completion of the road by the month of March this year.
The total cost
of the project is Rs. 2.88 lakhs and Rs. 38.4 MT of Rice (total
Rs.5.25 lakhs). The community involved in the works has played a
vital role in the initiation and completion of the project.
Under the SGRY scheme 8 kgs of Rice and Rs. 20/- (twenty) was
provided to the labourers for each day of work.
In the absence
of road, the villagers had to track and carry by head load all
their needs. It is with road that life has become a bit easy for
them and the load has become lighter.
Their main
occupation is agriculture.
A cluster
leader, Silseng Sangma expressing his joy that the village is
connected with road told "Earlier we use to carry down our
produces like ginger, arecanut, chilly, Beans etc, and despite
this hard work our produce was sold at a very low price…now
businessman/traders comes to our village and they buy our
produces at our door step…our back breaking manual labour is
saved".
It can be
mentioned that for climbing down it took at least an hour and to
climb up it took three hours from the Chinabat bazaar. This is
the nearest bazaar from the village.
Everyone
expressed how much easier life is and now they can dare to dream
of further plans like their own vehicle to provide a regular
transport service.
This village
has a population of about 120 households. The water is supplied
by PHE, and electricity has reached this small village recently.
A lower primary school and a medical dispensary have come up a
few years back, an indication of a better living standard.
Though at
present, the means of transport can only be 4X4 vehicles like
Mahindra Pickup, Gypsy and jeeps, but the clear difference in
the quality of life is undeniable.
The community
has played an important role towards this end. With the
villagers dedicated participation at the work, the road has been
a possibility. This possibility has inspired the continuing
chain of villages beyond Madalgre on Nokrek range.
One such
village is Ronkingre– situated adjacent to Mandalgre at present
require an hour of trekking. The villagers are ready to give
their selfless service to construct the road. It will be a
dream come true soon, as planning by the department is in the
pipeline.
This village
has a population of 28 households. This village has a primary
school set up under the Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan (SSA), a few
years back, though electricity and medical facility has not
reached here. Madalgre is an only destination so far for small
medical aid facilities.
This small
activities and initiatives are an indication of people's
awareness and motivation. It is with this kind of concentrated
approach by the people's organization, our rural villages will
definitely see a change for
themselves.
May
2007
Journalist
Saidul Khan is based in Meghalaya state. shanu.saidul@gmail.com |
