BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Dec 12: The residents of Ukium, nestled along Assam-Meghalaya border and situated 70 kms from Guwahati, have long been wallowing in backwardness despite the scenic village being a potential paradise for tourists. It lacks basic amenities, including sanitation, health care and educatiol institutions, because of official apathy.
Even though there are three upper primary schools and few lower primary schools in this village domited by people belonging to the Garo community, all happen to be single-teacher schools.
Locals rue there is no high school in the area. So to study in high school, children of the village have to trek all the way to Gohalko or Hahim situated around 30 kms away.
In the me of healthcare facilities, there is only a sub-centre in the area, where a nurse provides basic treatment to people. For serious illnesses or injuries, residents have to go to Chaygaon Civil Hospital, which 26 kilometers away from the village.
Benedict Areng, a Garo local, said that even though the approach road to Ukium has been repaired, there are still lots of problems which has plagued development in the area.
“Though the Chaygaon-Ukium road has been black-topped, this border village still has no basic amenities like healthcare and education,” Areng told The Sentinel.
“There is only one teacher each in Ukium Upper Primary, Kingaon Upper Primary and Shantipur Upper Primary school,” he added. Areng further said that the Low Cost Sanitation Scheme is yet to reach every family effectively owing to lack of sufficient funds.
“The government has sanctioned Rs 12,000 against one latrine but as our village is located in a very remote area, it is not possible to construct a toilet with that amount, so people have to spend extra towards carrying charge,” he pointed out.
Locals complained there is no mobile network in the area. “It is impossible to talk on phone due to non-existent network coverage,” a local rued.
There is no ATM booth in the area. So residents have to go to the nearest ATM 26 kms away to withdraw money. In the aftermath of demonetisation, their ordeal can well be imagined.
Even the three-day Drone-Sree-Dilma river festival which drew thousands of enthusiastic visitors to Ukium and concluded on Monday, was organised by the locals themselves by pooling dotions. There is no vestige of official support to be seen anywhere.