Rahul Shrivastava visits one of the remotest and harshest regions of the country to chronicle the adversities faced by people living in the Desert National Park region of Thar desert. It was notified in the 1980s. But none of the residents of 100 odd villages, mostly immigrants who fled Pakistan after the 1965 war were offered an alternative. The last 50 years have seen restrictions mandated by a national park to protect the fragile ecosystem getting stricter. That has meant the slow withdrawal of the government apparatus and infrastructure building from the 3200 sq miles region. No government scheme including MNREGA is operating in the region. The Jist team found residents spending 50% of their meagre earnings on drinking water, living without roads, electricity, basic health services and education
They spend an average ₹4000 to transport those who are critically ill from their villages to the nearest town 50 km away.
Most girls don’t study beyond class VIII. Those who do, go to schools only once a year to appear for exams. These are people living without hope, weathering a perfect storm of harsh climate, severe weather Gods and an indifferent government
1 май 2024
