Limbu says the task of guarding the bridge has become part of her daily routine of late. The care and dedication she lavishes on the suspension bridge is no less than for her own family. [break]
Many housewives like her in Ilam have been making a contribution to the security of the suspension bridges over the past few years.
This became possible after Ilam District Development Committee (DDC) shifted responsibility for the security of 120 suspension bridges in the district to local women from the menfolk. “After the shift in responsibility, the condition of the bridges has improved a lot.” says Kamal Regmi, sub-engineer at the DDC bridge section.
Local women assigned for the protection of the bridges not only prevent passers-by from shaking the bridges but also keep an eye on the cables and bridge decks to spot technical faults and inform the DDC.
Says another housewife, Sukhmaya Limbu, who guards Daumai Bridge, “Apart from watching over the bridge every day, I spend some time cleaning it up once a week.”
According to sub-engineer Regmi, inspection teams from other DDCs are visiting the district to see the commendable job done by local women in protecting the suspension bridges. “We have also commended 15 women for the excellent job they have done in bridge protection,” he admitted.
Previously, from 1998 to 2007, the responsibility for the protection of the bridges was given to the local men. But they misused the money provided by the DDC for the security of the bridges, a source at the DDC informed.
The DDC provides Rs. 3,000 on a yearly basis to each household that takes care of a suspension bridge, not as a salary but as an encouragement amount, says Regmi adding, the condition of all the suspension bridges has improved a lot in comparison to the past.
Likewise, the DDC provides skill enhancement training to the housewives deployed for bridge security.
The training has encouraged us greatly to dedicate ourselves to the security of the bridges, says Nandamaya Limbu. The housewives maintain that if the bridges are properly protected, they can last a long time.
The DDC had shown concern for preserving the bridges after many of them started to deteriorate.
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