In a remarkable grassroots initiative, women of a small hamlet Pichulia Tola in Langritanr village, under Chatarpur block of Palamu district in Jharkhand, built a 1.5 km road to their settlement by pooling part of their financial aid received under the state’s Maiyan Samman Yojana.
For decades, the absence of a proper road had made life in the hamlet difficult. Motor vehicles avoided the route, two-wheelers often got stuck, and in medical emergencies, patients — including expectant mothers — had to be carried on makeshift bamboo stretchers to reach the main road, as ambulances could not enter the village.
Earlier, residents had tried to collect money for the project, but their efforts yielded just ₹12,000— barely enough to start the work. Progress stalled until 25 women decided to contribute ₹2,000 each from the ₹2,500 monthly assistance provided under the welfare scheme.
Together, they raised ₹50,000, volunteered their labour, and ensured the road was completed within days.
Local resident Anita Devi recalled how marriages were avoided because processions could not reach the village. “No groom’s family wanted to come here,” she said.
Another villager, Shanti Devi, pointed out the struggles of school-going children, who had to walk the entire stretch daily to reach transportation.
The women’s determination has been widely applauded. “Without their courage and contribution, this road would still be a dream,” said Abhishek Kumar, a youth from the village.
The villagers claimed repeated requests to their Mukhiya, MLA, and MP had failed to bring results. However, Mukhiya Saraswati Devi maintained that road construction funds had already been sanctioned and work was scheduled after the monsoon. She lauded the women for their resolve, calling their step “an inspiring example of self-reliance.”
Basanti Kumari, one of the key contributors, recounted how the idea took shape during a casual discussion. “Someone mentioned using the scheme money to build the road ourselves. What started as a joke quickly turned into a decision everyone agreed upon,” she said.
The initiative has now become a symbol of community strength in Palamu— where women transformed state aid meant for individual welfare into a collective solution for an age-old problem.
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