Bhan Sahu thought being poor meant walking a kilometer to school and then having to drop out when she was eight years old, until she started working at an NGO and realized there were others even less fortunate than herself. Her interest in education didn’t wane, however. Using video as a tool to bring people together, her Community Correspondent reports…

Bhan Sahu

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8 years ago the local government started work on a health centre in UsariBod village of Rajnandgaon district in Chattisgarh. A contractor was selected and paid money to start the work.

8 years later all the villagers can see are sludge-filled foundations, probably breeding mosquitoes to add to their woes. They still have to traverse 15 kilometres to reach the nearest hospital.

Yet in the records, it seems to have been built! There was an outbreak of diarrhoea in a neighbouring village recently. They were told to go to the Health Centre at Rajnandgaon. Imagine their surprise when they arrived to find it didn't exist! Their despair that they would have to walk or cycle another 15 kilometres to get treatment. Suffering from diarrhoea. The mind boggles.

Unheard voices are being raised in a slightly helpless frustration. Another example of what? Local government apathy? The tired old accusation of greed and corruption? The lack of political will? The villagers of UsariBod, Rajnandgaon really need an answer. And a health centre. As is their basic right.

Community Correspondent Bhan Sahu reports from Chhattisgarh for IndiaUnheard

This video was made by a Video Volunteers Community Correspondent.See more such videos at www.videovolunteers.org. Take action for a more just global media by sharing their videos and joining in their call for change.