Phulbani: At least 30 appeals in 10 years to reconstruct a bridge over river Brutanga that collapsed in 2013 Phailin have fallen on deaf ears.
After losing hopes of anything constructive coming their way, the villagers of Joikhala under Chakapada block in Kandhamal, decided to look after their own welfare from their own funds.
People of eight villages of Pasala and Chahali panchayats depend on the bridge connectivity to reach the panchayats.
After struggling for 10 years and learning that vote does not fetch them welfare, at least for the people in remote villages, they put in their meagre resources to build a wooden bridge across Brutanga to meet their basic needs.
People depend on the bridge for medical, market and educational activities.
Several children had to discontinue education after primary school in the absence of connectivity to the block headquarters, said a senior citizen of Joikhala village.
About medical needs, an elderly woman said they had to carry pregnant women on cots across the river to reach a medical facility.
The villagers claimed to have met the district administration and authorities concerned several times but all those remain unheard so far, the villagers told a local channel.
With the elections to three-tier panchayats over, all they can now hope for is a concrete bridge before the monsoon arrives and maroons them.
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