Promotion of Villagers’ Access to Basic Human Needs
When we cross the Guldara district center in Kabul province and go further some 500 meters to the west, we come across a village, called Deh Naw located across a gully with steep sides. The lush green lawns and gardens indeed add on its beauty during summer in particular. Nearly 547 families live in this village. Most of the residents in this community earn their living from agriculture, while a number of them are also working for governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The waterway separating the Deh Naw village from the main road leading towards the district center usually dries down in summer. However, it is strongly filled with water flowing down Tarang and Bouk Montains and passing through Deh Naw village.
Crossing the waterway safely during winter was a big challenge for most of villagers including children, women and the elderly. Taking the turbulence of water into account, most of the villagers would usually were left stranded on either side of the waterway. Even, some of the villagers would lose their lives while wading across the waterway during winter.
Fortunately, soon after a Community Development Council (CDC) was established by the Citizens’ Charter National Priority Program of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/CCNPP) in this community, the villagers came together and gave top priority to the construction of a much-needed suspension bridge over the gully for the funds, allocated to their community by the Citizens’ Charter.
The suspension bridge 50-meter long and 1.5-meter wide, supported by concreted towers at both ends has been built for AFN 5.2 million funded by the MRRD/CCNPP including 10% community contribution (financial, labor or in-kind).
Said, Sana, a 12-year-girl: “we had a lot of difficulties due to lack of the suspension bridge over the gully in the past. During winter season, I usually missed my class and lessons as I couldn’t cross the waterway. We could not meet and join our relatives living across the gully on happy or sad occasions when the water was turbulent during winter. Thanks to Citizens’ Charter – we are now able to go back and forth on the cable bridge with great ease. We don’t have any difficulty attending our school on a timely manner or joining our folks on any occasion at any time.”
While expressing his satisfaction and pleasure over the construction of the suspension bridge connecting the Deh Naw village with the district center and tens of other communities, Mr. Abdul Hameed Mansoori the local CDC Head revealed: “In the past, the villagers couldn’t cross the waterway easily and go to the district center, especially during winter when the water level rose to a particular elevation. When we wanted to take the patients to hospital, we had to walk more than 2km to reach a bridge, located to the west of our village right in the outlet of the valley. Fortunately, the construction of the suspension bridge with financial assistance of the Citizens’ Charter has helped us put an end to all difficulties that we had in the past in terms of crossing the waterway, particularly during heavy snowfalls and rains that can contribute to run-off and cause floods in the region.”
Considering casual employment and economic recovery, a total of 1,095 labor days have created for both skilled and unskilled laborers during the suspension project execution in Deh Naw village.