Nearly a year after she first raised her voice seeking a motorable road to her remote village in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district, YouTuber Leela Sahu saw the first signs of progress on Wednesday, as construction equipment arrived to plug broken patches on the path leading out of her village.
The 22-year-old, who is in the final weeks of pregnancy, said the development came after the local Congress MLA took up the matter. “Today, some people came and began construction work near my village,” Leela told The Indian Express. “I got to know it was the local MLA, Ajay Singh Rahul, who took the initiative. They are now trying to fix the worst portions of the road so that at least vehicles can move in and out.”
Ajay, the MLA from Churhat assembly constituency, confirmed that the repairs were being undertaken at his initiative. “When this woman spoke about her plight, the local MP said he would transport her on her due date. It was unfortunate, and I thought, let me at least do something so that vehicles can go through. I’ve been trying for a year to get this road built, but no one listened. So now, I am building a few kilometres with my own resources,” he told The Indian Express.
Leela’s campaign, which began with vlogs and reels showcasing the crumbling condition of the 8-km stretch between Khaddi Khurd and the nearest hospital, became a rallying cry for basic infrastructure in the region. Since 2024, she has tagged several leaders in her videos, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, and local BJP MP Rajesh Mishra.
Her message caught national attention earlier this year when she criticised Mishra for failing to act, prompting him to respond with a contentious remark. “Every delivery has a due date. If she wants, she can get admitted early. We will provide all facilities, including food and water,” Mishra said, adding that transportation arrangements would be made a week before her due date.
Reacting to the MP’s statement, Leela said, “I was saddened. I don’t trust these promises. In the end, I’ll still have to depend on an ambulance. My only hope is that when the time comes, it can actually reach my home.”
Khaddi Khurd’s residents still rely on tractors or private vehicles to reach the hospital, and rough roads often delay emergency care.
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A Sidhi district official said a formal road plan is in the pipeline. “A 5-km road under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana was proposed in March 2025 after a survey. Work will begin once it gets state-level approval,” the official said.
“The women in the village are happy the roadwork has started. We hope the ambulance won’t get stuck anymore,” Leela said.
