Chandaji, Bandipora- 70-year-old, Nazir Ahmad Khan, often gets a knock from the Army at his Nazirpati residence in the Chandaji area of north Kashmir’s district Bandipora—nearly 90 kms away from the summer capital, Srinagar, just to get issues including sadak, bijli, pani addressed from the local administration.
Chandaji, an isolated village in Bandipora district in the Kashmir region, is surrounded by thick forests and has no proper road access. Narrow tracks are the only way to reach the remote parts of the village, including Nazirpati, and the Dodapati. The village of some 150 families is located on the foothills of Tragbal forest range in Bandipora and is barely 12 kilometers from district headquarters. The issues of roads, cellular services, and health centres, are not only concerns for the people of the area but for the army units deployed in this frontier area also.
“It is unfortunate that sometimes I get a late-night visit from the local Army camp as they are also suffering from the same issues here. They also need to connect to their homes and talk to their families. We are all on the same page when it comes to basic amenities of this area,” elderly Khan told Kashmir Observer.
“Our Chandaji village, located on the foothills of the famous mountain range and separated by Nallah Banzuri craves for basic facilities like road connectivity, electricity, mobile connectivity and potable water supply,” Khan said, adding “Our village is even more backward than Gurez Valley. Gurez remains cut off for 6 months and we remain cut off for 4 months despite being at a stone’s-throw from district headquarters.”
The Kashmir Observer team visited the area to understand the issues pertaining to the inhabitants and also have an interaction with them as gathering information on the phone wasn’t easy because of the network issues. On entering the village, the KO’s editorial team was asked to take proper permission from the Army as it was an established SOP in the area. On enquiring, it was learnt that even the Army wanted the area to get proper road and electricity connectivity besides better cellular services.
Another local of Nazirpati hamlet in Chandaji, Riyaz Ahmad Gojar Janjva told Kashmir Observer that “even in the 21st century we don’t have proper road connectivity and the irony is that we have to walk through thick forests to reach the village either by foot or on horses,” he said, adding “We have been deprived of even basic facilities by the successive regimes as no one has even bothered to visit the village in the last 70 years. We don’t have any facilities in the village. All we have is hope in the Almighty.”
Villagers also raised the issue of the healthcare centre which is operating from the rented building in the area and where one NHM doctor is posted. “I have to book a Sumo cab for entire day at Rs 1500 in order to attend my duty here as I can’t get return transport”, the doctor said adding she pays for travel from her pocket.
The newly constructed Health Centre remains locked as there is a dispute over it with the local administration for which locals of the area alleged that the XEN PMGSY concerned was involved in stopping the work—a claim rubbished by the administration.
NO SOCIAL MEDIA
At a time when the world is witnessing a social media boom, the youngsters of this area only crave for having a connection.
“We also want to remain connected to the world around us. But how come? We aren’t getting any signals here,” said Aatif Khan who is in his 20’s. “Government must be notifying many pro-people-welfare schemes but we all remain uneducated about it.”
“How do you expect us to compete and excel in our studies when you have such issues lingering on in your area.”
Another resident, Gulzar Ahmad Khan said that their children were facing many hardships and the result is that hardly anybody wants to pursue education beyond 8th standard.
“We have a middle school in the area which has never been upgraded. Our daughters have to foot a distance of 8 kilometers one way to Pazlpora to reach high school and same distance back through forest area and as a result they drop out,” Khan said.
“We had requested authorities many times about its upgradation but nothing happened. Every regime made a fool out of us.”
“In order to enhance infrastructure capacity of the areas where the army’s presence is vital, the Army by itself is implementing a wide range of measures, which boosts operational capabilities of forces deployed in the high-altitude hostile terrain. However, here the local administration could easily address these issues on priority and without letting the people and soldiers suffer further,” a local army officer, wishing not to be named, said. “I don’t think people of this area are demanding any major projects. Basic amenities are their right. Sadak, Bijili, Pani and ration should be easily available at least.”
HEALTHCARE CRISIS VILLAGE
The villagers of the Chandaji area claim that during winters, they often carry a critical patient on a cot and walk miles on foot to reach the nearest hospital due to the lack of road connectivity for this far-flung village. The villagers recalled the story of a pregnant woman who they had to carry on a cot to Bandipore, some 10 kilometers away.
The villagers said that at around 6 am in the morning, they left the village carrying the patient on their shoulders and reached Pazalpora at around 11 AM but.
“Unfortunately we have seen politicians in our village only during the eve of elections. They make tall promises that they will resolve all our issues and later renege on their promises,” said another local, Kabir Ahmad.
Sarpanh of the area, Mubarik Ahmad Khan, said that the successive governments have failed to address issues on the ground. He said that despite reminders to the government and the concerned authorities, nothing was done on the ground.
“This is the fate of Sarpanch. I am getting discredited among my own people. Nothing, no developmental concerns are addressed by the district administration,” Khan said.
“I am planning to go to the Raj Bhavan and lodge a protest there so that our concerns are heard. I don’t understand what happened to the meetings held during Block Diwas and Back to Village,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmed Rana, told Kashmir Observer, that many of their issues have been addressed. He said that regarding the health centre, the issue would be addressed within one month as the ADC was looking into the matter closely.
“There is some dispute going on. We are on it and it will be addressed within one month,” he said.
He said that efforts are on to ensure that the area comes under the tourism map of the district. “A local eco-park is also coming up in the area and the road project is being taken up under the PMGSY. We are trying to provide the basic amenities to the village on priority,” he added.
About Bandipora
Bandipora (locally called Bundpur) is the administrative headquarters of the district of Bandipora located on the northern banks of Wular – the largest fresh water lake in Asia. Despite being the richest wetland of South Asia no steps were taken to save Wular in past several decades. Bandipora is also a stepping town to the higher reaches of Razdan, Gurez and Tragbal.
Bandipora was the connecting link between North India and Central Asia via the Silk Road. At Pazalpora village wherefrom we take route to village Chandajji, there was a custom and immigration department which is now a forest check post. Due to the fact, Bandipora is also known as Gateway to Central Asia. There are strong links between Skardu, Gurez and Bandipora.
Demography
According to the 2011 census Bandipora district has a population of 392,232,roughly equal to the nation of Maldives. This gives it a ranking of 561st in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,117 inhabitants per square kilometre .Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 26.31%.Bandipora has a sex ratio of 911 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 57.82%.
The majority of the population is Muslim and dominant language is Kashmiri. Gojri and Pahari are also spoken. Tehsil Gurez is Shina-speaking. There are few Pashtun villages on the Line of Control. The famous Kishan Ganga Hydro Electric Project is also located in Bandipora.
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