Caption: Lokia Village Women’s Club leader Ms. Merelita Yasa (3rd from left) with the women of Lokia Village in Rewa at their newly commissioned foot-crossing.
SUVA – Children of Lokia Village in Rewa can now safely travel to and from their homes without having to face the dangers of a dilapidated crossing.
This is after the commissioning of their new and improved foot-crossing funded under the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management’s Community Access Roads, Footpaths, and Footbridges (CARFF) Programme.
Lokia Village Women’s Club leader Ms. Merelita Yasa said one of their biggest worries daily was the safety of their children in going to and from school.
“Previously, one of the challenges we encountered was ensuring accessibility for our children. With the old crossing in a state of disrepair, we were constantly anxious about the safety of our children, fearing they might stumble into the river and be swept away by the strong currents as the majority of them were in early primary school. Many of us women too were always worried about our safety when we used to use the old crossing. This was why we were continuously calling for the replacement of our crossing,” Ms Yasa said.
“We are truly grateful to the Government for this new and improved foot-crossing. We are very happy, especially the elderly we have in the village. Many times they would always give excuses not to go out from the village because of the condition of our previous crossing. Today, we are thankful to the Government for addressing our plight.”
The project also includes the construction of an overhead shelter and the installation of solar lights to ensure the safety and security of the villagers of Lokia, especially the members of vulnerable groups who reside in the village.
In commissioning the project yesterday, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka said the Government was pleased to witness the partnership between the village of Lokia and the Government coming to fruition with the opening of their new and improved foot-crossing.
Minister Ditoka said the Government hoped that the community of Lokia would uphold the standard of the foot-crossing and ensure it was well maintained.
Caption: School students from Lokia Village in Rewa celebrate their newly commissioned foot-crossing.
