Gopal Sharma
Majority of the people from Nowshera constituency of district Rajouri, claim that the major issues are still same which were five years back and their representative from National Conference has not contributed much to the constituency. Health care, drinking water and electricity are still major issues and even after two terms from 1996 onwards and 2008, the sitting legislator R S Sharma has failed to come up to the expectations of the public from his constituency.
Represented by most favourite of public and a popular legislator, Master Beli Ram from Congress Party for the six consecutive terms from 1962 up to 1987, this bordering Nowshera constituency of district Rajouri, remained strong hold of Congress Party for decades. Prior to this, Krishan Dev Sethi from National Conference had represented this constituency from 1957 for one term. R S Sharma, a resident of Ganya village near Jhangar (LoC), from National Conference made inroads into this constituency in 1996 for the first time when elections were held after Governor’s rule and long spell of militancy. But Radhay Sham Sharma was defeated by Master Beli Ram’s son – Dr Romesh Chander from Congress Party in 2002 elections.
Now, from 2008 onwards, R S Sharma is representing this constituency. Mr Sharma had secured 16,511 votes out of total 62,365 votes polled while his nearest rival Dr Romesh Chander Sharma from Congress had managed 12,691 votes. Surinder Choudhary from BSP had secured 12,186 votes while BJP’s Vishwinder Dev remained at 4th place with 11,701 votes. R S Sharma is also enjoying the status of Minister of State (MoS) as he has been appointed as Vice Chairman of J&K Kissan Board. Nowshera constituency of Rajouri has over 92,000 voters and Sunderbani and Nowshera, the two major towns are part of this constituency comprising of 60 Panchayats. During recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the lead of BJP candidate Jugal Kishore over Congress and NC alliance candidate (Madan Lal), was over 28,000 votes.
The Daily Excelsior team had an extensive tour of Nowshera constituency and talked to cross sections of people, mostly commoners and had feed back about the functioning of their representative, development works initiated by him, his short comings or neglect of the pockets in his constituency, his bond with the public and availability to his people at times of need. Even the independent views of some educationists, Government employees, Panchs/ Sarpanchs, women and youth were taken about the development activities/ difficulties being faced by them and assistance provided by their MLA/ MLC to mitigate their sufferings.
Strong is the resentment among the villagers living close to the Line of Control in Sunderbani and Nowshera area. They hold their MLA responsible for not helping them in getting benefits provided to the border villagers/ migrants of Khour and Akhnoor. They pointed out that Central Government with the intervention of State Government and concerned MLAs/ ministers helped their people in getting benefits but border villagers of this area disturbed during Pak shelling were left out high and dry. Majority of the people from this constituency are not happy with their MLA. They said the MLA is not available and hardly visits his constituency and meets people. He is only seen during the elections or during functions and then goes into hibernation. He never picks up phone or attends public grievances most often. He is seen when some VIP or a minister visits the area or when there is some special occasion, they maintained.
People from Lamberi and Siot area pointed out that the work on a Power Grid Station at Siot was started during 2003-04. Dr Romesh was MLA and it was claimed that power supply in Nowshera and its adjoining villages will be improved with it. But unfortunately, this MLA’s term is also nearing its completion but this Grid Station is still incomplete. Entire constituency is facing brunt of power and drinking water crisis and most of the problems are same which were about five or even 10 years back. There seems to be no change at all. The condition of many roads is also worst. Over 90 % of the PMGSY roads and others under BADP are incomplete for the last 7-8 years. The MLA hardly visits or supervises or takes review of the ongoing woks.
A Trauma hospital which was earlier proposed to be constructed at Sunderbani was later shifted to Chowki Chora in Akhnoor due to slackness on the part of local legislator. Not only Nowshera or Sunderbani hospitals but most of the Primary Health Centers and Sub- Centers and dispensaries are also facing shortage of Medical staff. The people are deprived of adequate medical facilities. RGGVY and MG-NREGA Schemes are farce and the people are not getting their benefits at ground level. In sheer violation of norms, NREGA workers were being executed with the help of machines/ JCBs. The norms clearly indicate the use of labour force on such works so that poor villagers could get job. Many roads under the scheme are being constructed by using machines. Thanda Pani to Langar- Noti road, Seri to Nalla Mangiot, Sial link road, Bhawani to Ladoka, Mangla Mata to Sher Makri roads are some of the live examples of Government apathy. Many roads constructed by RDD were left out just after earth work. Bills are drawn and `booty’ is shared among the beneficiaries out of public exchequer. No one is ever made accountable.
One Prem Dass from Jhangar pointed out that people of this area, from MLAs nearby village Ganiya and adjoining hamlets are facing severe shortage of drinking water. The people have to mainly depend on the traditional sources and fetch water from far off place. No alternate tanker supply of water is ensured. Worst is the electricity supply position in the area. Condition of lanes is worst and the health care facilities are very poor. Even people do not get ration regularly. The condition of Nowshera, Kalsian Bhawani-Kalsian road has been improved by BRO being defence road but the contribution of the MLA is hardly visible. “You go yourself and see, ask people what development he has ensured in this area,” Mr Dass maintained.
At Bhawani also, the people had no good impression about their representative. They said the basic problems are still there. We have not seen him since long” , said a group of villagers at Bhawani’s main market. One Roshan Lal and Ashok Kumar Panch said Bhawani is the main place in this belt having Higher Secondary School. In two Panchayats of this area there are nearly 1350 voters in one Panchayat and about similar number in the second. There was old demand of the people to provide Tehsil or CD Block status. There was a Niabat here in 1974-75 but it was later shifted to Lamberi on political considerations. There are adjoining 6-7 Panchayats like Bhawani, Lam, Ladoka, Pukharni Sher Makri, Jhangar etc but people of the area have been deprived of the benefit. No much attention has been given for the development of this area. Water, power and healthcare are the major issues while schools are facing problem of inadequate staff. The people have been left to have feeling `like orphans’ by their representative. Jagdish Singh and Uttam Singh said the public would certainly like the leader who would visit them and is easily available at time of need.
One Pawan Kumar from Nowshera said that the area has got a Degree College at Nowshera with the efforts of the sitting MLA but there are many areas where much attention is needed to be given. Safe drinking water, electricity, health care are the three major issues which could not be resolved so far in this constituency in last many years. Whether Congress or NC party legislators, these issues are still there. Naib Sarpanch Jarnail Singh from Lam and Capt Balwant Singh from Chowki (Lam) said people of the area are still deprived of the basic amenities. They said if good facilities are available in the villages, the people will not migrate to the towns and cities. They said poor supply of electricity, poor health care and education facilities besides non-availability of ration in time, are the issues which affect the public and the future of their children. The public representatives have failed to come up to the expectations of the people, they added.
Retired Subedar Om Parkash from Kangri area said that people are facing severe shortage of water. He said a few hand pumps are partially serving the purpose of the population. Long power curtailment is another major issue. If a transformer gets damaged, it is not replaced for weeks together by PDD staff. People with their own efforts manage transportation of damaged transformer and shift it to the workshop. This has happened many times. He said an irrigation canal is being constructed from Beri Pattan (Manawar Tawi) and it is said that Rs 50 crore is being spent on this project. The site of lifting water has now been changed, wasting public exchequer. NREGA, RGGVY and other RDD works are merely in papers and the people are not getting benefit. Labourers under NREGA are not paid for months together. There is no proper monitoring of these works. About half a dozen other people who were accompanying Subedar Prakash, alleged that their MLA is hardly accessible. One Dev Raj pointed out that unfortunately, border migrants of this belt are unhappy as MLA failed to provide them benefits which were accorded to those from Khour constituency. They claimed that most of the issues are still same and there seems to be not much change except a degree college there and sanctioning of irrigation canal at Beri Pattan with the efforts of Ghulam Nabi Azad, they maintained.
Strong is the resentment among the people from Devak area of this constituency against their MLA. The place is surrounded by five Panchayats and nearly 3000 plus voters are there in this belt. Ashok Kumar and Manoj Kumar of this area pointed out that people are demanding block or tehsil status but they have been denied any support from their representative. There is no PHC and only Health Sub- Centre lacks healthcare facilities. Worst is condition of road and the public is left to suffer for want of adequate water and electricity supply. The MLA visited only during elections and he would certainly appear during coming elections. People want road link from Taryath side and upgradation of existing road via Bhamla and Letar which is hardly 25 km in length. Irregular and inadequate ration supply is yet another problem being faced by the public in this belt, they added.
MLA Nowshera, R S Sharma, however, claimed to have given over 80 % of his performance. He said it is not possible to satisfy all in any respect. There may be some public complaints that MLA is not available but it is again not possible to reach out to each corner of his such large constituency. The health condition some time back was also another problem for him. But he said that he and his son, Gaurabh Sharma are constantly in touch with the people of their area. “I am also in touch with Sarpanchs and party leaders from Nowshera and Sunderbani area to address public grievances,” Sharma maintained.
Referring to the achievements, Mr Sharma said he managed 14 Water Supply Schemes for the public of his constituency, four got sanctioned from District Plan while five under BADP. Besides this over a score of defunct schemes were also got revived. Nearly 90 hand pumps were provided. Beri Pattan Lift Irrigation Scheme was got sanctioned for the area and it would benefit the Sunderbani belt in big way. The work on this Rs 52 crore scheme has been started. Ten PWD roads under NABARD and 11 bridges got sanctioned, It includes 313 mt span bridge worth Rs 16 crore from Nowshera to Hanjana village. One ITI was managed for Nowshera and Degree College building got sanctioned which is nearing completion. Degree College at Sunderbani also got sanctioned. Three PHCs at Lamberi, Seri and Siot were opened, eight Middle schools were upgraded as High Schools while 119 Primary schools under SSA were opened in last five years. 54 units in Nowshera and 77 in Sunderbani were electrified under RGGVY and transformers provided. Three power receiving stations were also set up and tourism infrastructure raised at several religious places including Mangla Mata and Mangal Devi ( Seri). Four Tehsils & Blocks and seven Niabats were provided while 32 new Patwar Khanas were opened. Silk Cluster Development Project worth Rs 50 crore got sanctioned for the area at Thanda Pani (Sunderbani) while four clusters for Sericulture development were got sanctioned for the constituency. He regretted that he could not provide benefit to the border migrants of his constituency on the pattern of Khour, failed to manage special recruitment for youth in Police and raise more model villages besides providing Class IV jobs to unemployed people of his area. The MLA claimed that he would strive for the remaining works in his constituency if voted to power.
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