Over 5000 people from 4 villages have to use the rickety wooden bridge daily. To commute to any of the major areas, one has to cross this 30 year old bridge over the dried river Torsha. People have to carry their cattle across the river.
The bridge has been broken for past 15 years. The Block Development Office assured a delegation that they'll get it fixed but nothing has been done in a year. The Panchayat told them they don't have adequate funds to build the bridge.
When community correspondent Bikash Barman inquired with the Village Head, she informed him that it is not possible for a Panchayat Head to sanction or construct a concrete bridge. Bikash took the issue further to the District Magistrate, P. Ulaganathan, in hope that he'll be able to find a solution but he was informed by the DM that he didn't have time to discuss this issue.
Bikash believes that if the District Magistrate takes this issue into consideration, the bridge can be built in a matter of weeks. He continues to try to meet the DM to discuss this problem that upsets the communities at Banchukumari, Maranilkuthi, Konamali and Palashguri. Bikash thinks if more people call and message the DM of Cooch Behar than the he will act sooner. He requests all viewers to please call and message the DM on 9434027101 in support of his cause.
Bikash Barman reports from Cooch Bhar, West Bengal for IndiaUnheard
This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent BIkash Barman. Community Correspondents come from marginalised communities in India and produce videos on unreported stories. These stories are ’news by those who live it.’ They give the hyperlocal context to global human rights and development challenges. See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.
“Video Volunteers gave me a platform to go the extra mile for people”
Avijit Adhikary is a journalist with nearly 8000 days of field experience till date. In the past two decades, he has witnessed the ebb and flow of the media industry in India, with ripples felt in his region too. This includes the rise of digital media, the decline of print...
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