Navita is aVV-PACS Correspondent from Katihar district in Bihar on the eastern border of India. She has worked with the National Confederation of Dalit Organisations, working towards spreading awareness amongst the Dalit community on issues like access to livelihoods under the government’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Katihar is a district plagued by low literacy rates and an…

Navita Devi

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Since 1984, the villagers of Maraghia in Bihar have been building their own bamboo bridges to cross the Barandi river, which flows between the village and all the major areas like the market, nearby village, block office etc. 'One has to cross the river in order to go anywhere outside the village.' But these bamboo bridges last only for 3 to 4 months, after which their problem aggravates again.
Adults and children have drowned while trying to cross the river. Many slip and fall from the wobbly bamboo bridge which is only 3 feet wide. At least, 100 such accidents have already happened leaving people with broken bones and bruises.

The community has been living here for more than 50 years and has submitted applications to various Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Parliament in past 31 years, yet no hearing has ever taken place. They demand a proper bridge be built over the river. Community Correspondent Navita Devi has taken the appeal to the Block Development Officer of Barari, who is responsible for any and all development in the block. Since the community's pleas were never answered before, Navita is mobilizing more people in support of her cause to create pressure on the BDO so that he resolves the issue immediately, ridding the community of their half-a-century old problem.

To help Navita, please call or message the BDO of Barari on +91-9431818333 in support of her cause of ensuring a bridge is built over the river Barandi for the villagers of Maraghia.

Navita Devi reports from Barari, Katihar, Bihar for IndiaUnheard

This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent Navita Devi. 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.