Gogaldara, (Tangmarg), Apr 7: The Sanitation Program is unheard of in this north Kashmir village nestled on the edge of Pirpanjal forest range.
 Electrification of dark habitations has not reached the homes and, among themselves, village elders cut jokes at the dismal health of infrastructure here.
 Gogaldara in Baramulla district depicts bleak picture of basic amenities and healthcare reflected in latest census report about hundreds of like habitation in Kashmir.
 A part of Tangmarg Halqa, Gogaldara block has around 260 households with population of 1500 to 1600 people.
 “More than 70 per cent of families are living Below Poverty Line here” said the village Sarpanch, Muhammad Maqbool Bhat.
 The only means of sustenance for the villagers is small time farming, carpet and shawl weaving and predominantly labor work.
 The poverty runs so deep here that none of the households has a modern loo. Instead there are temporary makeshift latrines build in open.
 Ask the villagers about the government of India funded Total Sanitation Campaign under which every family has to be provided latrine facility and they present blank faces. “None from the government has told us about the scheme.”
 Recently the Census report revealed that more than 9, 83,791 households (half of the population of J&K) have no latrine facility and 15 percent of JK population spends their lives in dark in absence of electricity, the report said.
 It went on to expose that only 34.7 percent of JK people get tap water from treated sources.
 Gogaldara is no exception to these worrying statistics which have left government’s oft repeated assertions about development exposed.
 Different Government initiatives to uplift the living conditions of poor have not flown to this village. “Some 17 houses have been sanctioned to this village under Indira Awas Yojna,” said Sarpanch.
 The upper half of the village standing on face of a hillock is without electricity since 90’s, said a senior citizen, Muhammad Ibrahim Tantray.
 Last June the NHPC authorities erected a few poles and stocked the electric wire in the village to connect it with brighter world. “Nobody has returned to lighten the houses here,” Ibrahim said.
 Two big rolls of electric wire are lying in the compound of a village house.
 The health care is in dismal position. A small “defunct” health sub center is the symbol of the health sector in Gogaldara, said the Sarpanch.
 “A sweeper and a junior nurse run the center,” he said. A 21st century village, Gogaldara is devoid of better road connectivity and transport facility.
 In case of health problems, the villagers have to walk several kilometers down the hill for treatment.
 This tale of neglect continues in the education sector too. The only middle school in Gogaldara was functioning without headmaster for past three years.
 Last week state government briefed the Assembly about implementation of various Government of India sponsored schemes like MNREGA aimed at providing livelihood to people at doorsteps. But the benefits have not flown fully to this village.
 “Since last year only four works were allocated here,” said the Sarpanch.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 8 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST