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| Fascination, mistry and deprivation in village Jagti, A native place of our Dogra Warrior Mian Dido | | |
DHIAN SINGH
It is a proud moment for the local residents of village Jagti, a native place of Dogra warrior, Mian Dido, which is turning an educational HUB these days where two prestigious educational institutions of national repute are going to be established by the govt. of India namely IIT&IIM Jammu at village Jagti (Nagrota).The IIT has almost started its classes whereas IIM is on the way to establishment very soon as the construction work of its buldings is going on war-footing. It is a boon for aspirants who are going to get education in various courses which have started or going to be started in near future in both the institutions but it is like a shadow of dark clouds for the local population of this village who are made victims of restrictions who are living since many centuries and generations.
There are many poor families who were traditionally in occupation of rearing of domestic animals namely sheep, goats. Cows buffaloes alongwith their small land holdings. The most of such families were depending on the adjoining forest ridges/land area which has been acquired by the IIM and IIT authorities for establishment of their instittions. The local population was mostly depending on said forest area for fodder for their domestic animals, firewood and cattle grazing grounds. Moreover, more than 50% of the population of this village is engaged in dairy farming to carry on their life alongwith their small land holdings. There is a meager percent of locals who are serving in govt. jobs.
The unilateral decisions of the govt. for allotting the said forest area/ridges surrounded by the village population was not in the favour of the local population without their proper rehabilitation and thus making them helpless in carry out their main occupation of rearing of domestic animals which is the main economy of the poor villagers. Moreover, the govt has never thought of fate of the poor villagers while allotting the said area. Apart from this, there is no any govt./institutional policy for rehabilitation of effected population of the village. The authorities could move towards other ridges where there is very less number of families living adjoining forest land area where there is a lot of forest land area without distrurbing local population . In case of establishment of IIM Jammu in village Jagti which started in 2017 when the area was surveyed by the concerned authorities for acquiring the forest lamd area having a cover of forests. The locals approached the then deputy commissioner Jammu and requested the said officer that a road link falling in between the area likely to be acquired for established for establishment of IIM Jammu should not be closed for the local public and the representation dated 26-12-2017 with the endorsement of then hon”ble MLA Mr Davinder Rana for not closing the said road link at any rate as the said connectivity is an important link for the local population was submitted in the office of the deputy commissioner Jammu and he assured the deputation for not closing the said road link.
On the assurance of the worthy deputy commissioner Jammu the local residents remained silent in the said matter. After sometime some construction agency was engaged for construction of the boundry wall of the forest area acquired for the establishment of IIM then we came to know from some reliable source that our said road link is going to be closed for the local population. Then we in deputation met with the divisional commissioner Jammu who marked our representation to then DC Jammu for seeking report from the concerned. Later it was sent to Tehsilder Nagrota by ADC JAMMU and further it was sent to naib tehshilder Nagrota by the tehsilder Nagrota after visting the site of said road link ‘the said naib tehsilder prepared a report and sent it to the tehsildar Nagrota for further transmission to the higher authority for information.
The local population felt satisfied and beleived a favourable decision for the local population but the said report got missing regarding its further transmission to higher authority. That was very shocking for the local people that how the govt agencies are working in case of public concerns which show that officers sitting in responsible govt chairs are taking the cases of public welfare and interest very non-seriously. The higher authorities must held accountable for their lapse in the matter.
In both cases of our representations, the local people were given assurance that the said road link shall not be closed for the local public. But in middle of Nov 2020 we came to know when the construction of boundry wall reached upto northern end of the said road link which was likely to be closed anytime for the locals .Earlier, when IIM authorities were asked in the RTI application regarding the closure of the said road than they conveyed us in their response that there is not any govt order for the closure of said road link vide their communication IIM/RTI/18/29 dated 10-03-2019. Later, again in another reply of RTI, they said that they are not closing any road vide their letter no IIMJ/RTI/2020-21/60 dt.06-01 -2021.
The said matter was only cleared when we received a reply in response to our legal notice from IIM Jammu regarding the closure of the said road that the local population have been provided an alternative road measuring nearly 3.5 km via 4-lane National Highway.
The said unilateral decision of the concerned authorities was not justified and acceptable to the local population. Till then the concerned agencies kept telling a lie that they were not closing the road for the local people. With the said RTI replies the concerned authorities were exposed of their hidden agenda of closing of the said road for the local people.
In response to the hidden unilateral decision of the authorities of the closure of the said road link the locals organised a peaceful protest to register their resentment against the said decision on 03-01-2021 which was covered by both electronic and print media .No body from any govt agency or IIM Jammu appoached the local public for any type of negotiation regarding the said manner .Again on 19-01-2021 a press conference was organised by the local residents to highlight the said matter to reach upto the ears of the concerned authorities .But it again remained a futile attempt in respect of the UT govt agencies and the IIM Jammu. Apart from this, we also sent TWO representations to His excellency, the Hon’ble Lt Governor for seeking some consideration in the said matter but all in vain. We also flashed emails twice and one request application for seeking an appointment to sort out the said matter but it also remained all in vain till date.
We also conveyed our resentment to the respective district and divisional authorities regarding the unilateral decision of the concerned. Apart from this, we also tried to seek appointment of the Director IIM Jammu and we went their to see the said officer but was not available in the office and then we, met Secretary IIM Jammu in his office ,he said that it was not our matter to close or open any road, It is entirely J&K govt to decide and asked us to approach J&K govt for redressal of your grievances .We also reported the said matter to the camp officer of 1ST BACK TO VILLAGE PROGAMME, Mr Rashpal singh then ADC Jammu who visited the site of the said road along with the local people and assured us to take up the said case with concerned officials for redressal .You can well imagine that how the govt machinery is befooling the common and innocent people. Later, we approached the concerned Principal/ secretary to govt Mr Shalinder Kumar, road and building deptt, He listened our matter patiently but he showed his helplessness in the said matter. After that the worthy officer advised us to see the concerned Hon’ble advisor to govt Mr Bhatnagar for seeking any help in the said matter .After few days we got an appointment and a detailed report was put up before him for redressal and said officer has directed the chief engineer PMGSY Jammu to submit the detailed report in the said matter and hopefully which is likely to be submitted in a short time .But the report submitted by the said officer of PMGSY dt.19-03 2021 was not acceptable because apart from land holdings there are other aspects namely schools, local shops, panchyat ghar. govt. dispansery, atta chakkis and religious places etc have not been included in the said report.
The local residents has some most important rights to be protected and claims for consideration of the present govt.
(1) That the residents of the village jagti who are having their land holding on both ends of the stretch of the roads are likely to face a lot of trouble due to closure of the said road connectivity which is a life line for these people since centuries.
(2) There are 2 schools where a large number of students are studying the said road is being used by the students for daily going to attend their schools. Moreover it will be quite difficult for small childern to travel to nearly 3.5 kms distance to reach their school via national highway having a dangerous crossing where already three accidents have taken place resulting loss of three young people.
(3) That there is one govt dispensary where people are visiting frequently to seek medical advice and other medical facilities by using the said stretch of road. Apart from this, sometimes various vaccination and awareness camps are being organised to educate the poor and helpless villagers by the visiting doctors.
(4) that there is a village panchayat ghar where many locals, NGOs and govt organisations organise programmes regarding education of people about govt welfare schemes etc.
(5) that there is a kuldev Sathan and a peer baba on both ends of the said stretch of the road where people are regular visitors for seeking blessing on the occasion of new borns, newly weds, birthday celebrations and seasonal festivals .Moreover a seasonal dangal is also organised to seek the blessings of peer baba where thousands of people come from adjoining villages to witness the programmes apart from this Bhandaras are also organised by the local people before and after crop seasons for seeking the blessings of peer baba for good harvest and protection against any natural calamity and disaster.
(6) That there are two Atta Chakkis where the local people are routine visitors while carrying their head loads of grains (wheats, maize, bajra ) and coming back on foot with head loads of atta using the said link road.
(7) That the present road link is also a shortest route for going to village shamshan-ghat which has been used by many generations of this village since centuries.
(8) That there are three/four village shops on both sides of the stretch of link road where people(old,young/children) are frequent visitors for purchasing their daily needs. The closure of the road link will force them to travel more than 3.5 kms distance to purchase things of their daily needs which is not convenient and acceptable. At present, in routine the small children are of great help to the parents for the said purpose. But the closure of the said stretch of road will put them in a lot of problem while using an alternative road via national highway which is more risky for the small school going children and the elderly people in crossing a dangerous crossing of the national highway.
Moreover, the said stretch of link road of 3.5 kms is very safe and shortest for both small children and elderly people. Perhaps, a good and favourable sense may prevail in the minds of the concerned authorities for an acceptable and justified solution to relieve the helpless and poor population of village jagti from unnecessary hostage and deprivation due to some wrong policy for taking a said unilateral decision for closing of a centuries old pathway/connectivity now turned metalled road for the local population which remained a lifeline for the survival of local population since time immemorial. |
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