'Grama Setu' - Villagers built a bridge without the government's help

Villagers of Mogra, located in Sullya taluk of Dakshina Kannada, constructed an iron bridge over a flowing stream without any government help. Mogra is a small village in Sullya taluk of Dakshina Kannada, with a population of about 1,300 to 1,500 people.

Sullya (Dakshina Kannada): Villagers of Mogra, located in Sullya taluk of Dakshina Kannada, constructed an iron bridge over a flowing stream without any government help. Mogra is a small village in Sullya taluk of Dakshina Kannada, with a population of about 1,300 to 1,500 people. The Mogra village is surrounded by several small villages and is the centre of activity in the area, including the polling centre, Mogra Government School, Health Center, Anganwadi, Mogra temple and Bhajana Mandir.

However, the majority of people in the area find it difficult to reach the village because there was no bridge built over a gushing stream. Due to the lack of a bridge, women and children find it difficult to enter the village and attend schools or health centre.

Karnataka

Demand from many years

There was a demand for a bridge among the locals for many years. Since 2006, people in the village have been appealing to the government and political representatives through newspapers and visual media. The bridge was not constructed despite several pleas. Political leaders promised a bridge each time during the election but it remained only a dream for the locals.

Iron bridge instead of areca nut tree

The village panchayat was putting areca nut trees to cross the stream. School children and women had to cross it dangerously. For the safety of the people and the benefit of the bikers in the rainy season, the areca nut tree has been replaced by an iron bridge.

Karnataka

A plan was made by the villagers to construct a bridge that allows them to walk safely and move two-wheelers. Hanging bridge expert and Padmashree Award Winner Girish Bharadwaj's son Patanjali Bharadwaj guided the villagers to build an iron bridge.

Many donors have contributed to this bridge construction by providing funds and villagers did the construction work. The bridge was built at the cost of Rs 1 lakh and without the help of any government or local department. The work estimation list was prepared on June 5 and the work for the iron bridge was completed on June 24. The bridge is about 20 meters long and about 1.2 meters wide. It can be used not only for walking but also for two-wheelers.