You’d have probably heard about them in author Mahasweta Devi’s works, but looks like Sabars have literally come a long way – from being an ostracised tribe to becoming "aatmanirbhar" Indians. Taking matters in their own hands, Sabars have built a 50 ft bamboo bridge across a stream known as Rani Jharna in the interiors of Jharkhand that remains flooded during monsoon.

The Sabars, classified as a "vulnerable tribe", live in far-flung pockets of Gobarhusi panchayat in Patamda block of East Singhbhum, 35 km from Jamshedpur, cut off from the outside world due to the flooding Rani Jharna. Forced to remain indoors, they approached the Mukhia, who promised them help. According to him, water from a check dam near the village of Sabars flows into the stream during monsoon, compounding the problem. “The check dam gets flooded during monsoon and the water flows straight into the stream. This has been a perennial problem affecting the lives of these people,” says Mukhia of Gobarghusi panchayat Khagendra Nath Singh, who eventually contacted Jamshedpur-based social organisation Dr Ambedkar ST/SC/OBC Minority Welfare Samiti, requesting help.

“We undertook a tour of the village over a fortnight ago, and also inspected the site where the bridge was needed to be built. We felt pity seeing their utterly poor state. They are not even aware of government schemes. Moreover it is very difficult to reach the village. One has to park vehicles and walk a kilometre to reach the homes of Sabars located in a difficult terrain close to the Dalma hills. We decided to extend help by facilitating building of the bridge,” says Sunil Chandranath, patron of the social outfit.

Chandranath says, they purchased bamboos, nails and ropes, and handed them over to the Sabars. “The Sabars worked hard and built the bridge on their own. The 50 ft bridge was finally inaugurated recently in our presence,” says Chandranath, adding a few samiti members also chipped in to work on the bridge.

Mukhia Singh is now a happy man now. He says that the bridge has made life of the Sabars easier. “Need for a bridge was being felt for years but nothing was materialising. The Sabars had to remain indoors even if they needed medical help as they could not walk to the block hospital due to the flooding stream. But now they will face no problem,” he added.

“Happiness in their faces was evident as they placed the bamboo over the stream and hammered nails on them. The bridge was a necessity for them and were helpless till the social outfit came forward with support,” the Mukhia says.