Construction of bridge on the Dankani River has transformed both the face and the fate of Kavadgaon Village Panchayat and its two dependent villages in the Dantewada district of restive Bastar region.
With the effort of Sarpanch Mahadev Poyam and the initiative of Chief Minister Raman Singh, a Rs 2.10 crore bridge has been constructed on the river that fulfilled the 30-year dream of the villagers.
According to Poyam, until two years ago, the residents of Kavadgaon Village Panchayat and its dependent villages used to fear the arrival of the monsoon season in the region. For them, monsoon meant remaining cut-off from the rest of the world for four months. Moreover, they had to cross over the Dankani River to bring ration from village Metapal. In doing so, many a times they lost their dear ones in the gushing water.
Poyam explained: "While crossing the river, four-five people die every year, whereas, there were no account of deaths of cattle. The villagers used to pray that no one in the village should fall sick during these four to five months, as it was difficult for them to cross over the river to the nearest Health Centre at Kilepal, which is 24 km away from the village, during rainy season."
The Sarpanch brought the problems of the villagers to the knowledge of the Chief Minister Raman Singh, who sanctioned Rs 2.10 crore for the construction of a bridge on the river within a month. About 150 people got job in the construction of the bridge also.
Poyam said, earlier, children in these villages used to go only Middle School level, but now with the construction of the bridge, all of them go to High School at Metapal. Moreover, the ration shop and Sub Health Centre have been opened and Panchayat building and community hall were constructed in the village.
The bridge has become a blessing for the residents of the dependent villages of Dumama and Davapal also. Now the village women go for work all through the year.