- Life on the path of development
A landmark road development in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is bridging decades of isolation, connecting remote tribal areas (like Dondarbeda and Kater) to main roads, bridging the gloom of mobility barriers, migration, and socio-economic backwardness.
These paved roads not only break decades of silence but also bring fundamental benefits like emergency healthcare, education, and access to markets to remote areas.
Surrounded by dense forests, Abujhmad… a region whose very name once conjured up images of difficult roads, fragmented lives, and endless waits for development. But today, the atmosphere of this Abujhmad is changing. A new road built under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM-Janman Abhiyan) in a remote area of Narayanpur district has opened a new chapter of happiness in the lives of the villagers here.
This 8.75 km long road from Dondribeda Camp to Kater is not just a strip of asphalt, but a strong thread of hope and trust for the tribal villages which have been cut off from the mainstream for decades.
- The pain of the trails and the fear of rain
Until recently, the only means of access to the villages in this area were narrow and rocky paths. With the arrival of the monsoon, these paths would become completely blocked, forcing villagers to remain confined to their homes. Children had to walk miles to attend school. Ambulances were impossible to reach the villages. Pregnant women and seriously ill patients often risked their lives in emergency situations due to the inability to reach hospitals on time. Villagers were unable to transport their hard-earned agricultural and forest produce to the markets, preventing them from receiving the rightful price.
- Geography changed at a cost of Rs 856.19 lakh
Thanks to the administration’s strong will and the power of the “PM-Janman” scheme, this daunting challenge was overcome at a massive cost of ₹856.19 lakh. This gleaming road from Dondribeda Camp to Kater has transformed the fortunes of these villages. For the first time, an ambulance and development reached the village’s doorstep. The road’s construction has brought about a magical transformation in the social and economic landscape of the entire region.
- Smooth transportation led to expansion of education and health facilities.
Now, 108 ambulances, government vehicles, and administrative teams are reaching villagers directly at their homes. With improved roads, both teachers and students are attending school regularly, improving the quality of education. Local farmers are now able to easily and directly transport their produce to larger markets. The role of middlemen is being eliminated, and money is flowing directly into the pockets of villagers.
- The dream of pucca houses came true
As soon as the road was built, construction materials like cement, concrete, and sand, needed for the construction of permanent houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, began reaching the villages without any hindrance. Work on electricity and drinking water schemes also picked up pace.
The faces of the village’s elders and youth now have a different glow. Villagers say, “Whereas previously, we had to walk for hours to reach Narayanpur or the nearby market, wasting our entire day, now vehicles stop right in front of our homes. The worries about our children’s education and medical care have completely vanished. It feels like we’ve been given a new lease on life.”
- Abujhmad joins the mainstream
This road, built through the PM-Janman Yojana, is a living example of how strong connectivity can help even the most remote and backward regions of the country reach new heights of social and economic development. This journey from Dondribeda to Kater has become a historic witness to the self-reliance and empowerment of the tribal people of Abujhmad.
