WILL DEVELOPMENT’S RAYS EVER REACH DHAMWAL VILLAGE? THREE GENERATIONS AWAIT A ROAD, COTS REMAIN SOLE AID FOR WOMEN IN LABOR VILLAGERS’ PAIN SPILLS OUT AS MEDIA ARRIVES, “NO ROAD, NO NOTHING, MLA DOESN’T EVEN VISIT”

WILL DEVELOPMENT’S RAYS EVER REACH DHAMWAL VILLAGE?

THREE GENERATIONS AWAIT A ROAD, COTS REMAIN SOLE AID FOR WOMEN IN LABOR

VILLAGERS’ PAIN SPILLS OUT AS MEDIA ARRIVES, “NO ROAD, NO NOTHING, MLA DOESN’T EVEN VISIT”

4-JUNE-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------The chasm between grand governmental claims and ground reality is starkly evident in Dhamwal village, Shahpur assembly constituency, Bhojpur district. When news reached the villagers that journalist Balmiki Pandey was arriving, it was as if their pent-up frustrations burst forth. Crowds gathered, clutching a long list of grievances, hoping their voices might finally reach the right ears.Dhamwal village, under Bahoranpur panchayat, remains miles away from development’s mainstream. A young resident shared, “My grandfather is 90 and has never seen a road here. I’m 25-26, and neither have I.” Three generations of this village have yet to see a paved road connect their homes.

The absence of a road makes life, especially in emergencies, a living hell. Pregnant women bear the brunt, carried on cots for kilometers to reach a hospital during labor pains. This dire issue has fueled deep resentment among locals toward the government, administration, and elected representatives.

Dhamwal’s roadless fate is decades old. Villagers say leaders swoop in during elections, promising roads, but vanish after victory. The lack of an accessible route disrupts daily life—no vehicle can reach the village. Protests have erupted, with slogans like “No Road, No Vote” ringing loud, but promises of resolving technical hurdles like NOCs have proven hollow.

A road, the cornerstone of development, remains a pipe dream for Dhamwal, forcing villagers to endure systemic apathy. The sight of a woman carried on a cot during labor pains casts a damning shadow over development claims, questioning the administration’s efficacy. Journalist Balmiki Pandey met villagers like Akshay Paswan, Dev Lok Ram, Naulak Paswan, Ratan Paswan, Sanjay Paswan, Lal Ji Ram, Chhotak Ram, Virda Paswan, Daroga Paswan, Dhanji Ram, and others to hear their woes.

The road is their biggest pain. “The main issue is the road,” villagers said in unison. Without it, life is a nightmare—vehicles can’t enter or leave, and emergencies, especially childbirth, turn horrific. Education and healthcare are crippled too. Teachers avoid the village school, and sending children, especially girls, for higher studies is a daunting task. Even minor ailments require arduous treks to the main road.

Villagers vented fury at their MLA, saying, “He doesn’t even visit; how will he hear our problems?” This reflects a gaping disconnect between the public and their representatives. Pandey’s visit gave Dhamwal a chance to air their anger at systemic neglect. They don’t want empty promises anymore—just concrete solutions.