A once challenging passage through a dense forest, causing inconvenience for two-way mobility along the main road from the village, has undergone a remarkable transformation in Beni, Myagdi in Nepal.
Local residents in Raghuganga rural municipality-2, Machhakharka, Myagdi faced difficulties collecting grass and firewood, along with transporting deceased individuals to the Kaligandaki cremation sites due to the deteriorating trail road.
Now, thanks to the collective efforts of the community, the old and congested passage has evolved into a well-constructed concrete trekking route.
The trail from Kunauta to Machhakharka along the Beni-Jomsom road section underwent a significant upgrade through the mobilization of in-kind assistance from locals.
Commencing in the first week of October, the construction of the trekking route has seen considerable support from the community. Local residents contributed in-kind donations, while non-resident Nepalis provided financial support. The campaign, initiated with a tractor delivering sand, concrete, and 20 sacks of cement, has garnered cash assistance exceeding Rs 1.3 million, according to campaigner Balkrishna Katuwal.
“We launched the people’s mobilization campaign for the trekking route when government-level support was not forthcoming,” shared Katuwal. The initiative has now become a widespread community campaign, with locals showcasing their commitment to making it an exemplary development project through collective effort.
Residents have donated their in-kind labor for periods ranging from one to twenty days, resulting in the completion of one kilometer of the concrete trekking route. The remaining kilometer is currently under construction, with local youths actively involved in transporting construction materials such as concrete, sand, and cement to the site.
To enhance people’s mobility, the breadth of the trekking route has been expanded to 1.5 kilometers. “Engaging in voluntary labor for the construction works that benefit the public has given me a different sense of joy,” commented Prem Bahadur Katuwal, a 56-year-old who has dedicated the past 22 days to working on the route.