They Kept Getting Promises, But No Road. So These Villagers Built One
Bedi Fartala is a small village under the Roser panchayat, located in a hilly, remote terrain of Barwani, with a population of just 350. For decades, the villagers, most of whom are tribals, struggled without a road. When it rained, their children couldn't reach their school. Pregnant women and the elderly were carried on makeshift cots across slushy, slippery trails.
"We gave applications. We pleaded. Every time a leader came asking for votes, we reminded them," says Dharam Singh, a resident, wiping sweat off his face. "But nothing happened. So we stopped waiting."
With the monsoon approaching again, the villagers decided it was now or never. A meeting was held. Every household offered labour - some brought food, some offered tools, and many just came with bare hands and willing hearts.
"The main road ends nearly 3 km from our village. After that, we have to walk, even in medical emergencies. Children graze goats instead of going to school because it's too far, too unsafe. We had to act," said Sunil, another villager.
And act they did. With incredible coordination, the community led by example. Half the villagers worked in the fields, the rest worked on the road. Women cooked and delivered meals to the workers on site. Elderly men broke rocks, children carried small stones.
What they have now, villagers say, is more than just a path - it is a symbol of ownership, of self-respect. "This is not just a road. This is our identity now," said one of the young volunteers, proudly pointing to the freshly carved stretch that winds through the hills.
Local MLA Rajan Mandloi admitted that the region suffers from poor infrastructure. "It's not just Bedi Fartala. Many panchayats in the area are disconnected. Plans for road work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were discussed earlier, but many projects were never implemented. People are helpless," he said.
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NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
They Kept Getting Promises, But No Road. So These Villagers Built One
They kept hearing promises and reassurances and saw no action being taken. But the residents of a small, tribal hamlet deep inside Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district decided they couldn't wait any longer. So they picked up shovels, carried stones and, over the course of just two weeks, built themselves a 4.3-kilometre road without a single rupee from the government. Bedi Fartala is a small village under the Roser panchayat, located in a hilly, remote terrain of Barwani, with a population of just 350. For decades, the villagers, most of whom are tribals, struggled without a road. When it rained, their children couldn't reach their school. Pregnant women and the elderly were carried on makeshift cots across slushy, slippery trails. "We gave applications. We pleaded. Every time a leader came asking for votes, we reminded them," says Dharam Singh, a resident, wiping sweat off his face. "But nothing happened. So we stopped waiting." With the monsoon approaching again, the villagers decided it was now or never. A meeting was held. Every household offered labour - some brought food, some offered tools, and many just came with bare hands and willing hearts. "The main road ends nearly 3 km from our village. After that, we have to walk, even in medical emergencies. Children graze goats instead of going to school because it's too far, too unsafe. We had to act," said Sunil, another villager. And act they did. With incredible coordination, the community led by example. Half the villagers worked in the fields, the rest worked on the road. Women cooked and delivered meals to the workers on site. Elderly men broke rocks, children carried small stones. What they have now, villagers say, is more than just a path - it is a symbol of ownership, of self-respect. "This is not just a road. This is our identity now," said one of the young volunteers, proudly pointing to the freshly carved stretch that winds through the hills. Local MLA Rajan Mandloi admitted that the region suffers from poor infrastructure. "It's not just Bedi Fartala. Many panchayats in the area are disconnected. Plans for road work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme were discussed earlier, but many projects were never implemented. People are helpless," he said.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Full clearance for Dhruv helicopter fleet pending amid ongoing review
The Indian military's fleet of Dhruv helicopters, grounded for over three months following a series of crashes, is still undergoing phased clearances as a comprehensive review continues. Despite some helicopters returning to operational duty, the full fleet of around 330 remains under scrutiny as the investigation into technical faults Dhruv, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is considered the backbone of India's rotary-wing operations, with over 180 operated by the Army alone, including 60 weaponised Rudra Indian Air Force operates 75, the Navy 24, and the Coast Guard 19. While the helicopters that have received flight clearance are currently undertaking missions across services, HAL is proceeding cautiously, clearing only those units deemed safe after thorough checks. A source told India Today that not all helicopters have received flying clearance as HAL continues its review and is approving aircraft in a phased manner. The Army resumed operations of its cleared helicopters in response to heightened security requirements following the deadly attack in entire fleet was grounded after a Dhruv helicopter of the Coast Guard crashed in Porbandar, marking the latest in a series of incidents that have plagued the platform in recent Aero India in February, HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr DK Sunil shared details from the initial crash investigation, revealing that a crack in the swash plate-a critical component controlling the rotor blades-had been defect investigation team is still probing the cause of the crack, and HAL awaits the final report to determine whether further inspections or changes are needed across the ruling out a design flaw in the helicopter itself, Dr Sunil pointed to possible gaps in training and maintenance. He said that over the past 25 years, 28 Dhruv helicopters have these, 13 were due to technical issues, 13 to human error, and two remain unexplained. Despite the accidents, the Dhruv fleet has collectively logged significant flying hours, underlining its central role in military extended grounding of the fleet was a serious setback for the armed forces and Coast Guard. Similar suspensions occurred in 2023 after a series of crashes across multiple service October 2024, an Indian Air Force Dhruv crashed into water during relief efforts in Bihar due to engine failure. In September that year, a Coast Guard helicopter went down in the Arabian incidents have taken place near Mumbai, Kochi, Jammu, and Pathankot. One of the most tragic crashes occurred in Arunachal Pradesh in October 2022, where a Rudra variant crash claimed the lives of two officers and three the investigation still underway, the Dhruv fleet remains only partially operational. The outcome of the final report will be key to determining whether systemic changes in maintenance protocols or pilot training are required to restore full confidence in the platform and prevent future accidents.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
After decades, cultivation resumes in paddy fields of Chemmaruthy in Thiruvananthapuram
Around 59 acres in the Panayara Pichakkasseri padasekharam (polder) of Chemmaruthy grama panchayat in the district that had been lying fallow for nearly four decades is being transformed into a success story of paddy cultivation. Decades after paddy cultivation ground to a halt in the farm tracts of Panayara and Pichakkasseri, the Chemmaruthy grama panchayat and the Krishi Bhavan there have joined hands to rejuvenate paddy farming as part of the panchayat's 'Tharishu-rahitha Chemmaruthy' (fallow land-free) project. The farming is led by the padasekhara samiti and some landowners, with a few school students doing their bit too. It has been a long process, beginning with meetings with panchayat ward members, padasekhara samiti, and land authorities to inject a fresh lease of life into the once- bountiful fields. An action plan was prepared and estimates readied over the past year-and-a-half. A small attempt to revive paddy farming in a portion of the polder at Pichakkasseri was made last year. Farming was taken up on four acres of fallow land, inspiring school students to visit the fields and even take part in a sowing festival. Encouraged by the response, it was decided to revive cultivation on around 50 acres at Panayara and another five acres in addition to the four already farmed at Pichakkasseri this year. Canal cleaned Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers were deployed to clean a canal that had been covered over the years. Many trees that had come up on the fields had to be cut down and their stumps and roots removed to prepare the land for cultivation, said Roshna Ameen, agriculture officer in-charge of assistant agriculture director's post. The Uma variety of seeds that can be harvested in 120 days were sown. The crop will be grown organically. The sowing festival saw a good turnout of Chemmaruthy residents. Around 20 National Service Scheme students of the Palayamkunnu higher secondary school also joined the sowing. The students will grow paddy on 30 cents in the polder. Sowing festival The sowing festival was inaugurated by district panchayat member Geetha Nazeer. Chemmaruthy grama panchayat president Priyanka Biril presided. Varkala block panchayat president Smitha Sundaresan was the chief guest.
