x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Forces thwart Pak’s Hamas-style attack on Jammu | In Pak terrorists are given state funerals: Foreign Secretary | Terror nexus exposed: Al-Qaeda backs Pak | Jammu mosques, madrassas open for displaced border residents | Amid cross border shelling, CM Omar reviews situation in border districts | Breeding Ground for fidayeen, links to Hamas, stockpiled NATO arms | PM meets secretaries, stresses on alertness | Masood Azhar’s brother killed: BJP | LG Sinha chairs high-level meeting, reviews preparedness | Army uses Harpy drones to target enemy air defence systems | Pak attempts to attack 15 places in North, Western India foiled | 100 terrorists, aides killed in strikes: Rajnath at All-Party Meeting | SDRF conducts Mock Drill Exercise at IIT Jammu | Developed India strikes back at provocateurs by entering their hideouts: CM Yogi | Cash Row: CJI recommends impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, says sources | Amit terms AI as biggest disruptive tech of 21st Century in MZU National Workshop | Salman Sagar appointed as vice provincial president of JKNC | SET exam in J&K, Ladakh UTs postponed | ASCOMS & Hospital to provide free treatment to border shelling victims | Rs 300 crore BrahMos Missile Unit set to be inaugurated in Lucknow on May 11 | Any military attack on India will be met with very firm response: EAM Jaishankar | Vivek Bali Expresses Deep Grief Over Loss of Lives in Poonch Due to Pakistan Shelling | Reasi police foil illegal transportation of Khair logs in Katra area | 84 Bn CRPF Provides Relief to Flood-Affected Families | DC Jammu Reviews Zonal Master Plan for Ramnagar Eco-Sensitive Zone | Horticulture Department Kathua organises exposure visit | DC conducts on site inspection of restoration works on NH-44 | Power shut down in several areas | GMC Doda organises Blood Donation Camp | HPS participates in annual “Save Water, Save Birds” campaign | World Red Cross Day observed at Udhampur | Reasi Administration celebrates World Red Cross Day | ACR reviews implementation of E-Waste Management Action Plan | Poonch Administration steps up restoration of Essential Services, Supplies | Arushi Kotwal of Doda Honoured by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya | Mini-Super Bazar M-PACS Maitra inaugurated in Ramban | DC Reasi felicitates JK Board Class 10th 12th Toppers | Back Issues  
 
news details
Voters of 'silent hamlet' cast ballots for basic amenities
4/19/2024 11:21:08 PM
Dhadkahi, Apr 19:

The residents of Dhadkahi, known as the "silent village" in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district due to its large deaf-and-dumb population, exercised their right to vote in the Lok Sabha polls on Friday in the hope of getting basic amenities, such as roads, water, healthcare facilities and education. However, they warned of boycotting future elections if their demands are not met. Located amidst snow-clad mountains, Dhadkahi is primarily inhabited by members of the Gujjar community, known for their agricultural practices and nomadic lifestyle. The unique characteristic of the village is that more than half of its population has faced challenges in hearing and speaking due to congenital medical conditions since 1950.
Despite these challenges, more than 35 per cent of the eligible voters in the village cast their votes at two polling booths by the afternoon.
"We have voted to garner support for our long-standing demand for basic facilities. We urge the government to set up schools for the deaf-and-mute children in our village," Mohammad Hanief, a social activist, said.
The villagers emphasised the need for immediate attention to their issues, including teachers for a primary school, a doctor for a primary health centre and linking the hamlet with the road network.
"The administration should look into the villagers' problems and ensure that the primary school gets teachers, the primary health centre gets a doctor and the village is linked to the road network," Hanief said.
The villagers said they will boycott future elections if their demands are not addressed promptly.
"We will boycott any election -- whether for the Assembly or panchayats -- if our demands are not met," Hanief said.
With the help of Hanief, Rahil Ali, a deaf-and-mute father of five kids, stressed the importance of a school for children with similar conditions.
"We cast our votes with this demand in mind. The government should ensure the establishment of a deaf-and-dumb school to educate these children," he said in sign language, which was interpreted by Hanief.
The villagers also called for government support to help the deaf-and-mute youngsters become self-reliant by starting their own businesses.
"The government should provide them with loans, training and animals under various schemes to h
The unique characteristic of the village is that more than half of its population has faced challenges in hearing and speaking due to congenital medical conditions since 1950.
Despite these challenges, more than 35 per cent of the eligible voters in the village cast their votes at two polling booths by the afternoon.
We urge the government to set up schools for the deaf-and-mute children in our village.
lp them earn a livelihood," Hanief said.
Despite their hearing-and-speech impairments, the villagers were enthusiastic about participating in the polling process.
"We are very happy to take part in the polling to choose our MP. Everyone is enthusiastic that the new MP will provide justice to us by ensuring basic facilities," Shabir Ahmed said.
Dhadkahi is home to approximately 4,500 Gujjars. The first case of hearing-and-speech impairment was reported in the village in 1939.
The village is part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, one of the 102 seats in the country that went to polls on Friday.
More than 57.09 per cent voters of Udhampur exercised their franchise by 3 pm despite torrential rains, election officials said.
The polling began at 7 am at 2,637 polling stations across the constituency, with more than 16.23 lakh voters eligible to cast their votes. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere, the officials said.
Twelve candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former MP Choudhary Lal Singh of the Congress and former minister G M Saroori of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), are in the fray from Udhampur.
While Jitendra Singh is eyeing a third straight term in the Lok Sabha, Choudhary Lal Singh, who won the seat in 2004 and 2009, is also trying his luck for a third victory.
This is the first major electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution and the erstwhile state's bifurcation into Union territories on August 5, 2019.
More than 11,000 polling staff, including reserves, have been deployed to ensure a free-and-fair election, the officials said.
According to the office of the chief electoral officer, 1,472 of the 2,637 polling stations have been equipped with webcasting facilities in the constituency that has 16,23,195 voters.
Among the voters, 8,45,283 are men, 7,77,899 are women and 13 are third-gender voters. Of the 2,637 polling stations, 2,457 are in rural areas and 180 in urban areas.
The highest number of 701 polling stations are in Kathua, 654 in Udhampur, 529 in Doda, 405 in Kishtwar and 348 in Ramban.
Udhampur consists of 18 Assembly segments spanning five districts -- Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU