Dehrian (Hoshiarpur), June 27
Fiftyseven years of Independence have virtually remained meaningless and life has been extremely harsh for about 10,000 residents of one dozen villages of this remote area for want of basic amenities. In the absence of a government initiative, a perennial khud and a meditation centre-cum-school-cum-hospital, set up by a Jalandhar-based doctor have been the only rays of hope forthe residents.
Since there is no approach road to upper Dehrian, lower Dehrian, Amaroh, Jharera, Barohi, Marwari and Katoli, the villagers are forced to commute through the Dehrian khud - a perennial choe or source of water emanating from lower Shivalik hills and passing through these villages. Similarly, as there was no presence of any medical facility in the area, the Adhiyatam Niketan run by Jasbir Dosanjh and Baljit Rai of Jalandhar, has effectively been doubling as hospital-cum-school for the villagers for past over one year. Before that in the case of an emergency the villagers had to rush to Hoshiarpur, 45 km from here.
This cluster of villages is so remote and deprived of basic amenities that the area virtually turns into an island during monsoons when the lone private mini-bus operator curtails the bus service from Dholbaha to Sakat village, for there is no road to these villages from Sakat onward. During monsoons residents are left with no alternative but to travel either on foot or by their tractors or jeeps which are scarce because of poverty in the area.
“ People had been facing a lot of problems as there was no government hospital in upper and lower Dehrian, Jharera, Amaroh, Barohi, Marwari and Katoli villages before our advent in the area. So when we purchased a piece of land here we had to jump into providing medical facilities coupled with education up to the level of class VIII to residents and children of the area as well. Our initial goal was to confine our operations to organising meditation camps but we could not digest people’s state of deprivation and complete absence of even the basic amenities. Now our school, which is affiliated with the Punjab School Education Board, has about 30 students. Apart from normal academics, they are made to indulge in meditation on weekends when I and Baljit Rai come and impart training to them in yoga and meditation,” said Dosanjh.
“We have been crying hoarse and politicians of all hues have been promising moon to us for decades, but our fate remains unchanged. There is no approach road from Sakat onward and we have to tread through this khud to reach our homes. Our invalid and aged people too have to be carried manually or to be ferried with the help of tractors in case of even minor ailments. For us there has been no existence of the government and we seemingly don’t exist for the government and authorities,” rued Kimti Lal, a resident of the area.
Dosanjh said chief parliamentary secretary (PWD B&R) Des Raj Dhugga has promised to build a road in the area.
