Gandatwisa, Dhalai District, 12th October 2024: The residents of Kalajari and Jibakarta Para under the Gandatwisa Subdivision in Dhalai District have taken a bold step by repairing their road on their own after years of neglect by the local administration. The road, which connects Kalajari to Jibakarta Para, is the only route to and from the village, and its deteriorating condition had left the local population cut off from essential services and severely impacted their daily lives.
For more than six years, this crucial road has been in a state of disrepair, causing significant hardships for the local community. Potholes, uneven surfaces, and blocked sections made it impossible for vehicles to pass through. Villagers repeatedly raised the issue with local leaders and administrative officials, urging them to take action and repair the road. However, despite multiple appeals, the roadwork was never initiated, leaving the residents in a state of helplessness and frustration.
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Due to the poor condition of the road, villagers found it extremely difficult to travel for basic needs. Medical emergencies became a nightmare for the community, as ambulances were unable to access the village, and patients in critical condition had to be carried by hand for miles before reaching a hospital. Many elderly patients, pregnant women, and children suffered delays in receiving medical attention due to the unavailability of proper transportation. Furthermore, school students faced immense difficulties commuting to their schools, with many either missing classes or risking their safety by walking long distances through unsafe and damaged roads.
Efforts by the local population to inform government officials and leaders were met with little to no response. Letters were sent, and meetings were held, yet there was no concrete action from the authorities. “We’ve been requesting the administration to repair this road for years, but all we’ve received are empty promises,” said a local villager. “The situation has become unbearable, especially for our children and those who are ill.”
On 11th October 2024, after years of waiting, the community decided that enough was enough. A local social worker, who has been an active figure in the area, organized a community-led road repair initiative. Together with other volunteers from the village, the residents of Kalajari and Jibakarta Para gathered construction materials, tools, and equipment and worked tirelessly throughout the day to fix the road. Despite limited resources and manpower, the group managed to level parts of the road, fill in potholes, and make the road temporarily usable for vehicles and pedestrians.
“This road is our lifeline,” said one of the residents who participated in the repair work. “We cannot wait for the government any longer. Our children need to go to school, and when someone falls ill, they need to be able to get to a hospital quickly. We’re doing what we can, but this is only a temporary solution.”
The absence of the local MLA during the community effort was also noted, further deepening the distrust between the residents and their elected representatives. “The MLA hasn’t shown up to help, despite knowing our struggles. We feel abandoned by the government,” remarked another villager.
This is not the first time that the road has been left in disrepair. According to locals, there was an attempt to repair the road approximately six years ago, but the work was incomplete and of poor quality, leaving the road vulnerable to damage from weather conditions and regular use. Since then, the situation has worsened, with the road becoming impassable during the monsoon season, when heavy rains would wash away the surface, turning it into a muddy and hazardous stretch.
The initiative by the local people has brought some relief to the area, but it remains a short-term fix. Without proper infrastructure support and durable repairs, the road is likely to fall back into disrepair soon. Residents are calling on the administration and political leaders to take immediate action to address the issue. They emphasize that while their efforts have temporarily restored access to the village, the government must step in to provide a permanent solution that ensures safe and reliable transport for the community.
“We are proud of what we’ve achieved together as a community, but this is not sustainable,” said the social worker who led the initiative. “The government must prioritize our village and repair the road properly. The health and education of our people depend on it.”
The Kalajari-Jibakarta Para road continues to be a pressing concern for the residents of the area, and until the administration steps in with a long-term plan, the local community fears that they will remain cut off and forgotten.
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