The Road Less Travelled
Showing remarkable steadfastness of purpose and undeterred by the hurdles and rejections they faced, the women SHG members of Kalachandpur doggedly pursue the block officials to sanction the building of a road to their village and relieve them of untold misery.
"HAAMRA HAAMADER GOLPO BOLA SHURU KORLE eto joldi shirabek naai, saara din laagbeke (If we start sharing our stories, it will take the whole day),” said Sadmoni Soren excitedly, her eyes shining with pride and confidence. She is a Santhali and a member of the SHG, the Malamiru Swanirbhor Gosthi, and also a Board Member of the Sabuj Sathi Nari Shakti Sangh. Not only Sadmoni but all the other members of that SHG also were glowing with pride. They have maintained a notebook in which they have written their achievements from the beginning till date.
“Tui pore ne ihate ki ki likha aachhe, haamra suru le aaj porjonto ki ki korechhi (Read what we have written in this notebook. We have recorded all our achievements till date over here),” said one of the members of the SHG when I asked them about their achievements.
T he most interesting story of all is the story of the construction of a concrete road in the village.
The kuccha road became an awful sight in the rainy season and caused severe problems for the residents. Negotiating the kuccha road on a regular basis during the rains was a major nuisance because the road became muddy and slippery