Mysuru: Yadahalli, a village in Mysuru district is deprived of everything even after 69 years of independence. The village does not have roads, street lights, drinking water facilities and even schools for children.
The only higher primary school left in the village was shut down three years ago. The villagers’ demand for Anganwadi (Nursery school) for children has not yet materialised. The little children have to walk or take private transport vehicles to reach schools which are located 10 kms away. Women labourers, pregnant women and those under post natal care are seen carrying their offsprings to Anganawadis which exist in nearby villages. The literacy rate is 14 per cent below the state average of 75% based on the last census figures and children below the age of six constitute 11.5 per cent of the total population in Yadahalli.
Of all the problems they face, the drinking water problem is the most grappling one as the tank constructed to provide drinking water to villagers using Zilla Panchyat funds still remains empty.
The villagers haven’t seen an ambulance since the time ‘Arogya Kavacha‘scheme was launched. The elected representatives visit the village prior to each election and place few currency notes on the hands of pleading men to silence them and disappear.
Villagers’ hopes are completely dashed as they don’t see any one heeding to their pleas. The change in the government both at State and Centre has no bearing on their livelihoods.
The callous attitude of people in power seems to have overtaken everything else. Incidentally, the state Chief Minister is a native of Mysuru district who came up in life from a similar background. It remains to be seen whether he will turn towards this village to revive the lives of people who have not tasted even the bitter fruits of development over the years. Probably, his visit may rekindle their lost hopes as basic infrastructure will be put back in place in most cases with minimal expense and efforts by the local/district administration.
