Ambapada is a medium size village of Guneipada gram panchayat, comprise of two different people groups living together; Mali (51%), and Gadaba (41%) out of 56 houses. The main problem is their village road, which is connecting to the main road. Village people use to talk dejectedly about their own road “25 years old cow jaws are still laying on our road still.” This visualizes the condition of their village road.
One fine day it happened that Podmanab (our CDO) visited Block Development Office at Lamtaput for SHG work, and he was taken for surprise when he saw the list of roads that made or repaired in 2001, and it shows that new road was made in Ambapada. Podmanab enquired about it in BDO office. He informed the villagers about this road that is falsely represented in the records as completed. He also motivated them to bring this issue to the notice of respected officials as soon as possible, if not they may have to wait for twenty-five more years to get good road. Soon the village HDC and other groups met together to discuss about the issue. Next day itself they met the Sarapancha and he couldn’t escape them, because he is the outgoing Sarapancha and panchayat elections were ahead. This issue became an important matter to discuss in block level meeting. The villagers along with Podmanab approached the Block Chairman and Govt. officials to make sure that their village roadwork to be done. Within a week many local politicians and officials visited the sight, and held meetings with the community. Finally roadwork was started as Food For Work. One person from each house was given opportunity to work and it was completed within prescribed time period.
The Health & Development committee (HDC) is empowered take initiation on various such developmental issues. Our CDO Podmanab is filled with joy and encouragement to continue to create awareness and bring about a change in the community through the HDCs and SHGs. (March 2002)
The Development ProgrammeCommunity Health
Community Life
Helping the Bondo Community
Literacy