Kohima: The People’s Bridge, a 70-feet bridge over Yinjung river in Tuensang district, was inaugurated by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday at Hotel Vivor in Kohima.
Built in 16 months, the Rs 1.20 Crore project is a joint initiative of Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS), the community, Hans Foundation, various government departments, the Assam Rifles, Border Roads Organization, and local MLAs.
“I have seen so much strength in our community,” Rio said, adding that such an initiative is possible because of the unity of the people and the convergence of various government departments and agencies.
In 2014 eight villages who lived across the Yinjung river felt the need to raise funds to build a bridge over the river to access health services at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Longpang, which is located beyond the river.
Without the bridge, it took these villagers almost three hours to travel 30km upstream and 30km back to the PHC.
The community then built a bridge using locally available resources but the bridge was washed away by flood waters in the following monsoon. The community once again showed determination to build a second bridge, this time at a safer location downstream.
Through the massive convergence effort, the 70 ft bridge and a 10 km link road was built with 60% funding by Hans foundation.
“A privilege to launch ‘The People’s Bridge’ over Yijung river Tuensang through convergence effort between various state depts, orgs, individuals & mobilised by ECS. I congratulate all those involved. A testimony of wonder that convergence of the state, funders & community can do,” Rio tweeted.
During the launch, Rio said that unless the community and the people participate and take ownership, such projects will not see the light of day.
Despite the enactment of the communitisation programme—a policy which was framed after seeing the strength of the community, the communitisation concept remains only in papers and is not being implemented in the state, he said.
The CM urged the need for administrators and government officers to take responsibility for convergence and “be the bridge” between the community and the state government, to bring about positive developments in the state. Rio also urged the need to promote the community and utilise the strength of the community.
He suggested that the convergence model should be replicated in other districts, wherever required.
Saying that education, along with healthcare and connectivity, are basic necessities, Rio expressed concern on how some schools across the state are not functioning properly. As he pointed out that the biggest and best buildings in villages are the churches and the worst structures are the school buildings, he emphasised on the need to make schools attractive for learning.
While he assured the government’s support towards the joint venture, he hoped that the bridge would join people of the region, and bring about harmony and prosperity.
Menukhol John, principal secretary of roads and bridges, highlighted how the project started with the need to access healthcare services in the rural area. He recalled how the ECS and the National Health Mission (NHM) in 2010 had deliberated on how the people and the government could contribute in making healthcare services at Longpang PHC accessible to the villages around it.
Over time, the PHC has gone on to become the only PHC in the entire country where doctors and nurses are appointed by the community and salary comes from the health department. The public-private partnership model between the health department and the community now provides round-the-clock services in the 20-bedded hospital. He informed that the PHC has achieved 100% institution delivery till date.
During the launch, Shalendra Katariya from the Hans foundation announced that Rs 6 lakh will further be donated to construct culverts along the stretch. He also informed that the Hans foundation envisions building two state-of-the-art health care services in the state.
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