Inspired by Dashrath Manjhi, the ‘Mountain Man,’ residents of Jodatalaab and Ghoghadbara villages in Chhattisgarh’s Gourela Pendra Marwahi district have built their own road by cutting through a mountain. This action was a direct response to the Forest Department’s closure of their traditional access route due to recent plantation activities, which was replaced by a difficult, elevated road. The villagers found themselves isolated, as the new road was unusable for essential services such as ambulances and school buses, while the old path was accessible. The situation came to a head when a child from Ghoghadbara died and the ambulance carrying the body was unable to navigate the difficult terrain. In response, the villagers mobilized, with 30 to 40 individuals working together with hand tools to construct a new, accessible road. They collected funds and worked together to build the road in a short time, without any help from the authorities. The unity of the villagers was key to the project’s success. The original path served as the only access route for Jodatalaab and Ghoghadbara. The closure of this path caused immense hardship, while the alternative provided by the department was at a high altitude and was prone to landslides. This made it difficult for ambulances and school buses to reach the villages, causing significant problems for the residents.
Chhattisgarh Villagers Emulate ‘Mountain Man’ Dashrath Manjhi, Carve New Road After Forest Department Action
