Villagers in Chhattisgarh Forge New Road After Forest Department Blocks Access, Inspired by ‘Mountain Man’

Following the example of Dashrath Manjhi, the ‘Mountain Man’, residents of Jodatalaab and Ghoghadbara villages in the Gourela Pendra Marwahi district of Chhattisgarh have constructed a new road through a mountain after the Forest Department closed their existing path. The department’s actions, taken to facilitate plantation activities, left the villagers with a problematic alternative road, which was difficult for ambulances and school buses to navigate. The original path allowed access for all vehicles. A recent incident, involving the death of a child from Ghoghadbara and the subsequent inability of an ambulance carrying her body to pass through the difficult terrain, spurred the villagers into action. A group of 30-40 villagers decided to create a better route themselves. Using hammers, pickaxes, and shovels, they worked together, pooling funds and labor to build a new, accessible road. Their efforts were a display of remarkable unity. They worked tirelessly to clear the earth and break rocks, without assistance from the authorities. The closure of the villagers’ original path caused significant hardship, as the replacement road was too elevated and prone to landslides. This situation made it impossible for medical services and school buses to reach the villages, forcing the villagers to take extreme measures to access basic necessities.