Udhampur (J-K), Jan 16 (ANI): Residents of Bini Sangam village under Chenani Tehsil of Udhampur District in Jammu and Kashmir have constructed a bridge over a stream from their own sweat and toil after the concerned authorities in the Government never took any initiative to build it.
In fact, for the last 60 years, the residents have been pleading with the Government for the construction of a bridge across the stream flowing outside their village.
They had repeatedly contended that this bridge is a vital mode of communication for the villagers with ten other villages.
"When the people of this village got no help or support from the Government, they came forward and formed their own committee and started collecting funds from each of the villagers," said Rajesh Gupta, President, Bapar Mandal, Chenani Tehsil, Udhampur.
This newly constructed culvert, which is a mini-bridge, is 80-feet long and 8 feet wide. It has been built with iron and concrete, all by the toil of the villagers.
According to the Pradhan of the village, as there was no bridge, many locals had lost their lives by drowning while crossing the stream whenever it was in spate.
"Many people have even lost their lives in the absence of any bridge to cross the stream. Because of this, we decided to construct this bridge without any outsider support. Today by God's Grace and the support of all the villagers, we have finally managed to construct this bridge. Government made no contribution to it," said Nurada Antal, a resident.The committee that was formed to build this huge culvert collected funds worth rupees 50,000 from the villagers. The money was spent in procuring bricks, cement and steel.
As for the labour, scores of residents wholeheartedly spared their time and toiled to construct the bridge.
Incidentally, this village is also considered as a pilgrim spot and therefore even the pilgrims donated funds for this bridge.
Among the donors was a philanthropist who chipped in with a lakh of rupees for this unique voluntary project.
In all, this iron-cum-concrete culvert has been constructed at a cost of rupees 3,30,000.
The culvert was inaugurated not by any politician or government official, but by the little girls of Bini Sangam who cut the ribbon.
The deeds of these villagers reminds one of the late Vinobha Bhave, a true Gandhian crusader who had ushered a campaign of voluntary services in the names of Dhan Daan, Shram Daan and Bhoodaan in mid-1950s as a part of the Sarvodaya movement. (ANI)
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