Hakim Singh
Love for soldiers and nation cannot be proven just with words. It’s the action behind the promises that reveals the truth of any ruling party. Before I decided writing this article, I came across many pieces of writing and speech that highlights the BJP’s deep regard for soldiers. The party’s popular way of expressing love for country has been its concern for the soldiers. And I also owe the same feeling because it’s a soldier that remains ready to die for the national cause. This small piece narrates a story of a village called Shirote (Saroor) that gave us forty soldiers but could not see road even on completing 75th anniversary of Independence Day.
Shirote is a village in permanent dream of road connectivity. Bound to its agricultural and domestic activities, constrained by its hilly and forest terrain, the village today is a legacy of an eternity of socio, economic, educational and political backwardness.
For decades, every party has used the village as their vote bank. But none of them ever tried to develop even its basic infrastructure. Despite being supporter of BJP, the villagers not only faced isolation before 2014 but also thereafter. With the congress rule gone, the Modi led Government on the rise also could not consider the problem. Their sufferings continue even after the BJP has come to the power.
On 5th August 2019, they also saw a dream of an inclusive, equal, developed and fully connected J&K. And with this hope they not only supported the reorganization of the state but recently also celebrated its second anniversary. However, people from other side may see this dream becoming true but village Shirote of Kishtwar district in UT continues mere with dreaming. If BJP, a nationalistic party fails to address the issue, what can be expected from the others? One may see the change in rule in J&K, but no change in the village of these soldiers. The absence of transport facility in the village maintains its isolation and the restlessness among its Jawans. The forty soldiers from this place work for the country’s safety without having basic security at their home. If choosing security forces was a choice to them, the discrimination with their families has been also a choice for the government. What can be the clear answer for not connecting their village when the Government is supposed to implement the ‘Sab Ka Sath and Sab Ka Vikas’?
A road to the village of soldiers will bring with it a lot of benefits, opportunities and avenues for tourism in Jammu region. While that is a distant dream, at present, the foundation of the work has not yet started. Only a survey is conducted that also does not carry any clear road map to achieve the target. Keeping in view the topography of the area, the view point of experts also seems neglected.
Currently, the biggest challenge to the youth is not only of better road but utilizing the same to join the security forces. With poor background, their struggle to become a soldier also remains hard. They want to walk, run and ride cycle for physical fitness. But for that they do not have the road infrastructure. Despite hardships, the village has produced forty soldiers for country’s security till time. Providing them better transport, health and education will be a tribute to their commitment and service for the country.
The BJP now will complete its second term, but the hard life journey of families and relatives of these serving soldiers seems to be the same. Modi is keen that every part of India should be connected digitally and will have world class infrastructure. But the question is whether he will first provide the road connectivity to all? By the end of 2021, will these soldiers also travel by bus to their village? If the Government of the day does not keep its promises, the village will only expose its true face too.
By the end of this year, the LG of new union territory would require to complete the road on priority, so that these soldiers have not to waste their holidays in traveling only? The transport facility will be a start of modernity and development in their village too. However, the government may not be able to arrest every problem initially, but it does have the potential to link the village with road at least. The availability of road will not only reduce the traveling hours but contribute the education, business, health sector of the area significantly. The youth also would not have only one profession but many to see their future.
If the past politics was biased, the current, while likely to initiate the process of elections is supposed to end the current village struggle. Given its slogans of universal connectivity, good governance and inclusive development, the BJP needs to fulfill its promises from here only. Ability of BJP to construct this road also will determine how true love it has for the soldiers and the nation. Most importantly, based on their full support to current Government thus far, the villagers have reasons to expect change from this Government only.
(The author is a Research Fellow at Department of Public Policy and Public Administration, CUJ)
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