Garhwa/Baridih: Long before government files reached their desks, administrators often walked through villages to understand the realities people faced. In a rare throwback to that tradition, Baridih Block Development Officer-cum-Circle Officer Pravin Singh, accompanied by officials and local police led by Station House Officer Rahul Singh, chose to leave behind official vehicles and cover nearly 15 kilometres on foot to reach the remote village of Semri.
The journey was more than a symbolic exercise. As the team walked through villages and hamlets, residents stopped to share their concerns, complaints and expectations. By the time the officials reached Semri, a large crowd had gathered, turning the visit into a moving public hearing and a direct conversation between the administration and the people.
What followed was a day of inspections, decisions and assurances – one of the biggest outcomes of the visit was the selection of three long-pending rural road projects. Villagers pointed out that the roads had remained unpaved for decades, causing hardships during monsoon seasons and limiting connectivity. Responding on the spot, officials approved proposals for their development.
Another damaged road leading to Navadih School was ordered to be repaired under the GSB scheme, while local representatives were directed to prepare a proposal for constructing a culvert to help residents cross a problematic drainage channel.
The foot march also exposed alleged irregularities in government welfare schemes. Villagers informed the administration that goats distributed under a livestock programme had allegedly been taken back by the supplier months after distribution. The complaint prompted officials to assure a detailed inquiry.
The visit was equally marked by strict action against encroachments. In one case, an individual was found to have obstructed a public pathway by placing posts along both sides of a canal route. The obstruction was removed immediately and the person was directed to clear the remaining encroachment within 24 hours.
Another case involved alleged encroachment on the premises of PM SHRI Upgraded High School, Semri. Officials found that portions of school land were reportedly being used for tethering cattle. The alleged encroacher was asked to produce supporting documents within two days, failing which legal proceedings would follow.
Beyond infrastructure and land issues, the march revealed the human side of rural administration. Officials met a severely disabled man who had lost his eyesight and suffered extensive physical injuries. Living without adequate support, he became one of several vulnerable individuals identified during the visit.
BDO Singh directed officials to facilitate disability certification, pension benefits and welfare assistance. In another instance, instructions were issued for the immediate documentation and rehabilitation process of an orphaned boy encountered during the tour.
An inspection of Upgraded Middle School, Navadih, highlighted concerns over low student attendance. Officials also discovered that none of the enrolled students possessed birth certificates, a basic document required to access several government services and entitlements. Teachers and local representatives were directed to complete the necessary paperwork and ensure certificates are issued at the earliest.
For the villagers of Semri, the significance of the visit lay not merely in the announcements made, but in the administration’s willingness to walk their roads, listen to their grievances and witness their challenges firsthand. As the day concluded, many residents described the initiative as a refreshing example of governance reaching people where they live rather than waiting for them to travel to government offices.
In a region where distance often separates citizens from decision-makers, the 15-kilometre march served as a reminder that sometimes the shortest route to effective governance is simply walking alongside the people.
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