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| Rajiv Nagar: Not as terrible as slum, but no better | | Munish Gupta mass contact programme in full swing | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 28: As a part of his ongoing mass contact programme, Editor Early Times, Munish Gupta who would be contesting upcoming assembly election from Gandhi Nagar Assembly Constituency as an independent candidate, on Sunday conducted one to one interaction with the inhabitants of Rajiv Nagar Colony near Qasim Nagar on city outskirts.
During his visit to the locality, Munish Gupta found that the quality of life for the residents of Rajiv Nagar Colony may not be as abysmal as a slum, but isn't much better either.
Munish Gupta while meeting with the locals of the area took minute details of every problem they are being confronted with. After taking a first-hand knowledge of the gravity of the problems and listening to all the grievances of the residents with utmost patience, Munish assured them that all their civic problems would be addressed on priority basis after he gets elected as a legislator.
The inhabitants, who thronged in huddles wherever Munish halted to interact, told him that the apathetic attitude of the successive MLAs representing both BJP and Congress is solely responsible for the appalling condition of their locality
The inhabitants in one voice said that everyone overlooked their basic amenities till now. "They (ex-MLAs) visit our locality only when elections are round the corner, but after getting elected they leave us in the lurch," the aggrieved residents told Munish.
"Litter and trash in the surroundings, dilapidated lanes, clogged drains have made our lives miserable while a nallah in the vicinity is a grave threat to the households in rainy season as it gets flooded as and when there is heavy rainfall. The unclean locality like ours is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and fleas due which spread several contagious diseases," said Vikram.
Usha and other locals minced no words in castigating the high and mighty in the corridors of powers saying, "Bade Log Nahin Sunte (powerful people don't listen to us)."
"Our ration cards have been withdrawn for the last several years and the authorities didn't even bother to inform us the reasons for the withdrawal. We are forced to purchase ration from open market which is not cost effective for people like us who are living from hand to mouth," said Usha and several other inhabitants.
Like stoppage of ration under Public Distribution System which was one of the core issues affecting the day to day lives of Rajiv Nagar residents, another major concern for Usha, Maya Devi and several others is the worn out electric wires which according to them needs to be addressed urgently.
"The electrical wiring in the area is more than three decades old due to which they often fell in streets and on roofs of the houses. Anybody can get hurt or die in such a scenario. We are under constant threat. We approached the authorities concerned on several occasions to change the worn out wires but to no avail," said Usha, Maya and others.
In the meantime, an aged woman Shanti while narrating her tale of woes said that she has already borne the brunt of outdated electrical wiring in the locality as her as well two other houses got completely burnt a few months back due to falling of wire and a subsequent spark from it.
"My entire life went upside down on May 28 last when a spark from a loose wire engulfed my house and the houses of my sons. I cannot forget the incident wherein all my savings, household articles as well as dowry made for the marriages of my two daughters turned into ash. The marriage of my daughters was fixed for June 25 but the fire due to short circuit ruined it," said Shanti.
Khemo Devi, Sushila and Mukesh said that the rain water as well as the garbage filled water from overflowing drains and the nallah nearby enters their houses which inundate their residences and locality quite often adding that they brought up the matter before the ex-MLAs as well as the administration but nothing materialized so far despite making several assurances to rectify the problem.
Sunil Kumar and Lachhu Ram highlighted the problem of water and electricity prevailing in the area.
"Water as well as electric supply in the area is not up to the mark. Both these supplies are not only irregular but also insufficient to cater to the needs of the residents," said Sunil and Lachhu.
While one of the residents, Tinku said that he along with his family is forced to live in makeshift slum in a nearby park as the place he was putting up had been taken over by the authorities to construct toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission.
"The authorities took over the land which was under the possession of six families to construct toilets but we were not provided an alternative site to build our houses. With no other option in sight, we put up temporary sheds for our living in a public park nearby," said Tinku.
Another inhabitant of the area, Rakhi, failing to hide her disappointment over the non-provision of water connection, said that her only desire and demand is to get a water connection for her house.
An elderly woman Lajjo said that she doesn't aspire anything but some financial incident for her ailing daughter who got burnt in a fire incident few months back.
"My daughter was critically burnt after falling into the hearth in the house as she got unconscious due to her ailment. I have no source to provide her better medical treatment as it involves huge amount," said Lajjo.
"I was told by somebody that the state government provides financial assistance for the medical treatment to the poor and needy but don't know how to approach for that. I appeal to the authorities through the medium of your newspaper to provide me with the much needed succor at the earliest so that I could treat my daughter who is under unbearable pain and agony," she added. |
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