Lalgarh-Amtala connecting bridge a life-changer for Jangalmahal

It may sound unbelievable but a bridge changed the life of thousands of people living in the backward areas of Jangalmahal.

The 650 meter long bridge connecting Lalgarh with Amtala has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 53 crore and was opened by Mamata Banerjee a few months ago.

To see the development of Jangalmahal, a visit to the area with an open mind is a must. This is for the first time since Independence, the election in Lalgarh will be held on the basis of development and not on the false promises given by the political parties.

What was the picture before the bridge was built? To reach Jhargram a person had to travel to Midnapore. In monsoon he had to cross the river by country boat and no one knows how many people had died of snakebite in the past six decades. “People had accepted death as their fate and shed tears,” said Bonbehari Roy, Trinamool president of Lalgarh. Local people had gone from pillar to post requesting political leaders including the then WBPCC president Pranab Mukherjee. The result was a fair-weather bridge made of bamboo. “During the monsoon the bridge became unusable and people had to rely on country boats,” Roy said.

The bridge has reduced distance between Jhargram and Lalgarh by 25 km. As transportation has improved, people can reach Jhargram straight by crossing the bridge.

The Khadyasathi project and protection given to Kendu leaves collectors are considered to be the biggest achievement of Trinamool government. “Mamata is not a human being. She is God,” said Gita Murmu adding: “Now we can eat two meals a day and our children can go to school without fear.”

The kendu leaves collectors will get a pension after reaching the age of 60 years and have been brought under accident coverage.

Kanyashri has immensely benefitted the girls and the number of school drop outs has gone down considerably.  The Sabuj Sathi project has helped students to reach their schools by cycle.

The free treatment and the super specialty hospitals along with fair price shops are something which the people could not dream of. A model school, ITI and a college at Salboni has raised hopes among the students that within the next couple of years they will be at par with their counterparts in other parts of the state.

Ramakrishna Mission has set up Eklavya residential school where 60 SC boys and girls will be given best education. The laboratory at the school will be set up by Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission and the students of class XII will be attending a science camp in Kolkata by JBNSTS. “Development is the key word now in Junglemahal and Mamata Banerjee has done a miracle. People should come to see what development has taken place in the past four years, ”said Bonbehari Roy.