Chatar Gaon still wallows in dark age

No power, no drinking water, no education & health facilities for village in West Guwahati constituency 

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Oct 2: Chatar Gaon, a village within West Guwahati assembly constituency, is yet to see any development since Independence. Despite being located only a few kilometers from State capital Dispur, the village doesn't have clean drinking water, electricity, education, health and communication facilities till date.

There are 61 Rabha families inhabiting this village since Independence, eking out their lives in absolute misery. 

Roads turn extremely muddy and slippery during the rains, and dusty in the dry season. A stream meandering through the village divides it into two parts, but two rickety wooden logs are the only means to cross it.

Education is a far cry for Chatar Gaon inhabitants with only one LP school med Chatargaon Prathamik Vidyalaya. If someone needs to study in high school, he or she has to travel over 7 kms.

The village has no healthcare facilities. Critical patients have to be taken to Rani or Azara, almost 10 kms from the village for any treatment. There is no government water supply scheme at the village; the villagers depend on a single well for their water needs.

There is also no electricity in the village, although a high voltage transformer is located nearby. Since Independence, no steps have been taken by successive State governments to supply power to the village.

Ramesh Rabha, a ward member of the village, said, "The village has innumerable problems. The previous Congress MLA didn't bother about the fate of us villagers and never paid a visit here to take stock of condition of the village. Now, we have approached BJP MLA Ramendra rayan Kalita with our grievances. We hope the new BJP-led government will do something to ameliorate our pitiful condition."

On the issue of non-availability of power supply to the village since Independence, Rabha said, "We have contacted Bijuli Bhavan, but the authorities there said extending power cables to the village will be very difficult due to hilly terrain and jungles. Wild animals roam the area, and there are chances that these will come in contact with live wires and die instantly. Bijuli Bhavan officials say they will think of extending power cables here only if we give protection to wild animals."

The inhabitants of Chatar Gaon also complain about elephant mece in the area, but no help has been extended from the State Forest department to tackle rampaging jumbos.