‘Provide facilities to our village else we will boycott future elections’
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 19: As the seven phase general elections in the country started today with the Lok Sabha constituency of Kathua-Udhampur-Doda witnessing grappling of political bigwigs in the battle of ballot, a small hamlet Dhadkahi in the mountainous Doda district of the Constituency, all of a sudden, stole the limelight owing to a portion of population there affected by a strange ailment under which the individuals lack power to listen and speak right from their birth.
Sources informed that presently the village has 82 deaf and dumb persons including children, men and women.
Former Block Development Council (BDC) Chairman, Chowdhary Mohd Hanief of Bhalessa-Gandoh block, who also remained Sarpanch of Dhadkahi Panchayat for 19 years informed that there were 102 such people in the village but some have died by now and the first case of deaf and dumb in the village was detected in the year 1901.
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“In 1990 there were 46 such persons with problem in speaking and listening in seven families of the village,” he further said adding: “The issue was brought to the notice of concerned authorities many times and a school for deaf and dumb persons was demanded but so far nothing has been done in this regard.”
“In 2004, there were 72 such people in Dhadkahi and an NGO from Mumbai gave them hearing aid machines while scientists from across the world have conducted researches on these people but no result has emerged so far,” Hanief continued.
He informed that the Primary Health Centre in the village which was upgraded in the year 2014 has not seen a doctor so far and about 12-15 ladies have lost their lives so far while being shifted to the nearby hospital during their delivery.
“During the regime of National Conference, Congress and People’s Democratic Party, I raised the issue many times but nothing has been done so far,” Hanief said.
He also said that Dhadkahi village also lacks proper road, water and electricity facilities.
“Within 10 kms there is no primary school in the village though the village has a high school which was upgraded in the year 2003 but so far it has neither seen a headmaster nor other proper staff,” Hanief maintained adding: “A good number of people from the village voted today expecting something good for the village and we have also openly declared that if a school for deaf and dumb and other required facilities are not provided to our village soon then we will boycott all the future elections.”
Three deaf and dumb sisters of Dhadkahi-Reshma Bano, 24; Parveen Kousar, 22 and Saira Khatoon, 20-all daughters of Reham Ali, who remained at the centre of media focus also cast their votes today inspiring others to participate in the festival of democracy.
A local of the village informed that politicians visit Dhadkahi, get votes and never show their face after winning.
The village is completely inhabited by tribal Gujjars.
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