Collective action builds lifeline bridges for 80 farming families in Kot Budha

Baisakhi brought cheers to farmers and their families in Patti’s Kot Budha village (Tarn Taran district), as two newly constructed bridges marked an important milestone.

These lifeline bridges were completed in eight months, under PwC India Flood Rehabilitation Project. The project was implemented by non-profit Shramik Bharti and a team of 72 local farmers, whose access to their farmlands had been limiting due to a 400-ft drain that was prone to flooding and overflowing during monsoons.

Varinderpal Singh, an organic farmer from Bhikhiwind and a Shramik Bhartiya project manager, got the construction completed with the active contribution of local farmers, led by Sukhwant Singh, and the dedicated efforts of village volunteers.

The inauguration ceremony for the bridges was organised on Tuesday by Sukhwant, along with representatives from Shramik Bharti and 50 farmers.

“For several years, some 80 farmers in the area faced significant hardships due to the absence of proper access routes to their fields. The previous pathway had become damaged and unusable, forcing farmers to travel an additional 6-7 km to reach their land. In many cases, villagers had to cross a 400-ft sewage drain, exposing themselves to health risks and unsafe conditions. Despite repeated demands made to various government departments, the issue remained unresolved,” Varinderpal Singh said.

Sukhwant said, when volunteers understood the gravity of the farmers’ problem, this long-pending solution could finally take shape.

“With the construction of these bridges, farmers can now directly access nearly 300 acres of agricultural land from their village, significantly reducing time, cost, and effort,” he said.

The inauguration, held on the eve of Baisakhi, was celebrated with the farming community, who marked the occasion by distributing sweets.

Nihal Singh, a farmer from Kot Budha, said: “These bridges are lifelines for border villages prone to floods. They offer safety, economic activity and survival. Now, they stand not just as physical infrastructure, but as a symbol of community unity, resilience, and collaborative development.”

Varinderpal says, when communities come

together, any challenge can be overcome.

“After last year’s floods, we helped rehabilitate 1,600 acre farmland in Patti. It was all due to collective efforts of volunteers and farmers,” he added.