Tajik migrants have collected a substantial sum of $188,000 (2mn somoni) to repair roads in the village of Basmanda, located in the Devashtich district of the Sogd region in Tajikistan, as reported by Knews.
Basmanda: A Village in Need
Basmanda is one of the largest villages in the Devashtich district, with a population of over 10,000 residents. However, almost half of the village's population has left to work either abroad or in the capital city, Dushanbe. The main street of the village, stretching five kilometers, had not seen repairs since the Soviet era, leading to significant deterioration. The poor condition of the road made daily commutes difficult and hazardous for residents.
Migrant Workers Step Up
The initiative to repair the road was spearheaded by three local businessmen who garnered support from approximately 4,000 migrant workers originating from the village. These migrants, now working in various locations including Dushanbe and Khojand, collectively raised the necessary funds to lay asphalt on the main road for the first time in half a century.
Community Effort
Makhmadnazar Haqnazarov, a resident of Basmanda, described the dire condition of the road prior to the repairs:
"The whole road was deep. People were stumbling. It was impossible to walk normally, the whole car was shaking."
Rahmatullo Yorov, another district resident, emphasized the collective nature of the project: "
The initiative to repair the road was put forward by three local businessmen. They were supported by about 4,000 migrant workers in the village. By 'migrants,' I also mean those who are currently working in Dushanbe and Khojand. The villagers help the road builders."
The community effort was widespread, with many families contributing financially to the project. Abdumajid Olimov noted,
"About 20-25 of my relatives are in labor migration. All of them allocated money from 3,000 to 5,000 somoni ($282-$470)."
According to the villagers, this road repair project is part of a broader tradition in Basmanda. Wealthy residents frequently fund community projects, often prioritizing these over personal expenditures like pilgrimages to Mecca or lavish celebrations.
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