78 yrs of neglect: Jandrog villages cry for basic infra

Imagine the plight of villagers living in densely populated settlements nestled in the tough hilly terrain — without even basic road connectivity or access to healthcare. Chakki, Chihun, Koot, Thehra, Batalbayee, Aahan and Goth — remote villages under the Jandrog gram panchayat in the Bhatiyat Assembly constituency — are cut off from the road network and lack health facilities like a Primary Health Centre (PHC) or Community Health Centre (CHC).

In times of medical emergency, villagers must walk between 7 to 14 km along steep, slippery kutcha paths just to reach the nearest Dadriara-Chowari link road. From there, they continue their journey to the civil hospital in Chowari. During monsoon rains, these footpaths become even more dangerous, turning emergency access into a life-threatening ordeal. In a recent instance, a woman from Chakki village had to be carried on a palanquin for 14 km to the Dadriara link road before she could be transported to the hospital in Chowari. The lack of rural roads turns pregnant women and critically ill patients into the worst sufferers, as transporting them on shoulders is both physically and emotionally harrowing for families.

Local residents — Babu Ram, Pritam, Prithi, Bhimo and Brij Lal — expressed deep frustration over what they call “78 years of neglect,” pointing out that three wards of Jandrog panchayat comprising eight villages are still waiting for basic development. Despite repeated appeals to the panchayat, Block Development Office and district administration, their demands have largely been ignored.

Over 500 people residing in these villages continue to suffer due to inadequate infrastructure. While middle schools exist in Chihun and Chakki, students must walk 5 to 13 km over treacherous paths to reach the Government Senior Secondary School at Dadriara for further education.

Ironically, the Bhatiyat constituency is currently represented by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Pathania, who has held sway over the area for years.

Surinder Kumar, Pradhan of Jandrog panchayat, acknowledged the hardships. “I have been pushing for road connectivity to these villages for the last five years. Thanks to Speaker Pathania’s intervention, the government sanctioned Rs 21 crore in 2023 for pucca road construction and even the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearance was obtained last year,” he said.

However, Kumar pointed out a major roadblock: “Non-cooperation from beneficiary villagers themselves,” referring to the refusal of some residents to part with small portions of private land needed for road construction.

Himachal Tribune