Beltangady: Residents of remote villages languish without electricity, roads
 
Deekshith D V
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady
Pics: Jeevendra Shetty

Beltangady, Nov 18: “When suffering from paralysis, I was carried to the hospital in a wooden recliner by four men. There is no proper road to our village. We need to walk about five kilometers through the forest to reach the hospital, market, or schools. It is very difficult for patients, the elderly, and the children,” said Thimakka, a paralytic patient from a poor family.

Thimakka's story is similar to those of other families in the villages of Makki, Bail, Parla, and Ellyarakanda that lie in the lap of lush green nature. Soothing greenery and melodious chirping of insects, birds, and a gushing waterfall make this village seem like heaven. Villagers here are dependent on agriculture and horticulture for their livelihood. Some women also roll beedies to feed their families.

Makki, Bail, Parla, and Ellyarakanda are the villages of Malavathige gram panchayat in Beltangady taluk. From these villages, people need to walk more than 5 kilometers to for even to buy basic requirements like groceries, hospital, school. There is no proper road or electricity in this village. A few families light their houses using kerosene, and a few others convert hydro energy into electric energy from the waterfall, which can light only four bulbs at a time. Moreover, school children face difficulties as they have to walk several miles to reach school.

“It is very difficult for children to go to school. They need to walk several miles to school. Moreover, during the monsoon, streams fill up and children cannot cross over. The walk through the forest in monsoons becomes difficult. There is also danger of tuskers in the forest and two adults need to accompany them while they come home from school during the monsoons,” explained Shivappa Gowda.
 
“The only problem here is road and electricity. If this is provided, our village would become like heaven with rich greenery. We have also paid Rs 1,500 for electricity to the gram panchayat and electricity poles have been put up but the connection process has yet not started.  Due to road and electricity problem, villagers send their children to school by getting them to stay with relatives elsewhere,” said Krishnappa Gowda.

Koragappa Naik, president of ZP, talking on this matter, said, “Already the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana scheme has been passed for the electrification purpose but due to some dispute regarding sites it is under a stay order from the court. Hence, electrification to the village has been delayed.”

The government should at least provide basic facilities like electricity, road, and drinking water. In these villages there is no problem of drinking water because nature has provided sufficient water resources. At least the dream of villagers regarding road and electricity should be fulfilled.