Col Paramjit Singh (Retd)
India is developing at a very faster pace and making huge progress by leaps and bounds. India grew from undeveloped state to underdeveloped state and from here to a developing state and taking future strides and leaving no stone unturned to become a developed state and a well respected and prominently recognized state amongst comity of nations. Soon all will come true. Wait and watch. But off late , the juuggi jhopdi culture creeping in especially in Sainik colony, Jammu must be discussed , shunned and discouraged by all and sundry.
The prominent cause of this kind of , Jhuggi Zophdi Culture coming up is a matter of serious worry. But why is it coming up in the first place? The plausible reasons are. Everyone wants to live independently as far as possible given a chance. The landlords or plot owners either give the premises of their vacant plots for free to the needy or charge rent from them to the tune of Rs 1500-2000 per month by giving them a temporary accommodation of a small size of say 7 feet by 7 feet or 8 feet by 8 feet or whatever size. The landlords are of the opinion that by keeping needy persons and allowing them to occupy the vacant plots will provide them security against encroachment and also these residents will act as care takers. Come what may. But this kind of JHUGGI ZHOPDI coming up must be shunned, shammed , condemned and not encouraged . Why discouraged? The reasons are listed in the foregoing paragraphs.
There is a great SECURITY RISK
Wherever mix population resides or occupies a locality, there is a big security risk which on ground translates in the form of thefts , murders , attempt to murders , dacoity or chain snatching or such other kind of things take place, which are unwarranted, unwanted and undesired. Also, any outsider ( can be a foreign agent or a from a hostile country) can mix around with these people , stay with them and remains undetected and carries out nefarious activities successfully against our motherland. Therefore the Jhuggi Zophdi Culture can play havoc against our own nation, a beautiful nation, our elders creation . What happened to Israel, is still fresh in our minds or we have forgotten. Hence the Jhuggi Zophdi living being a big security risk should be shunned and totally discouraged by all nationalists.
HYGIENE AND SANITATION PROBLEM
Jhuggi zhopdi occupants prefer to go out for open defecation, which pollutes the air environment in the near vicinity of defecation area. Also, there are no washroom facilities available in most of the vacant plots. And some of the occupants have dug out earth and have made temporary defecation areas inside the plots, again this is unhealthy and pollutes the environment around by spread of foul smell, which travels through the air in the near vicinity. Also, acute shortage of water in sainik colony further compounds the problem. One may fall sick due to such unhealthy environment.
MISUSE OF WATER
The occupants of JJhuggi Zophdi blatantly misuse water at leisure with great pleasure. The occupants combined get in touch with contractual PHE employee and ask him to provide an illegal water connection. This can be verified on ground. The employee does it and charges money for doing the job . Both parties are happy – goodie goodie. Although water is a basic essential requirement, alright, but blatant misuse of water should be avoided and discouraged in totality . The occupants pay no bill because it is an illegal connection. Hence they feel no pinch to waste water. Wasting water tantamounts to wasting a natural resource for our future generations. The action must be taken against erring PHE employees, who install illegal water connection. The aim is to save water for our future generations.
MISUSE OF ELECTRICITY
The Jhuggi Zophdi inhabitants take illegal electricity connection through the lineman of the area, to whom they pay some amount mutually agreed on monthly basis between parties which is wrong practice though. Electricity is a basic requirement. It is okay. But its wastage is equivalent of wasting a natural resource for our future generations. A case in point, three local heaters being used at one point of time in a Jhuggi on daily basis. It is not wrong to say the least , that it is a massacre of misutilisation of a natural resource at will . What would one call such an attitude. Couldn’t care less attitude as simple. A sheer blatant misuse of electricity . That’s all. Such people should be metered and action must be taken against the erring employees for providing illegal electricity connections. When one pays the hefty bill, one is always cautious to ensure proper utilization of a facility. And moreover , when one pays through one’s nose the heavy bills , one will automatically ensure no wastage. Metering must be done on priority as deemed fit by an appropriate authority. The aim being to save electricity for our future generations.
Remedial solutions
No plot should be kept vacant in the first place as a policy . Either construction be undertaken on a vacant plot or it should be utilized for agricultural purposes, that is to grow crops or vegetables.
No landowner anywhere should give his vacant plot to outsiders for residential purposes. If given , in that case , landowners should provide a washroom facility and legal Water and Electricity Connections in the right earnest. The aim is to ensure that security aspects are in tact and natural resources are saved for our future generations. Moreover to ensure foolproof hygiene and sanitation. In addition,the landowners must ensure that whoever is staying in the vacant plot is registered with the police chowki, Sainik Colony and also with the Sainik Colony office. Police and Sainik colony officials must cooperate and support the cause for the benefit of all.
PHE ( Jal Shakti) and PDD departments and municipal corporations can play a major pivotal role and can definitely do a much sought after , much better job in saving water and electricity( natural resources ) by implementing on ground installation of proper metering. The local corporators and society members can also chip in and contribute immensely by holding regular nukkad meetings of residents includingJhuggi Zhopdi inhabitants and educating them about security measures , proper hygiene and sanitation and saving of water and electricity and why their need including safety , security and high standards of hygiene, for better health and well being of all. Let us all contribute our bit and ensure a better happy living for all and implement all measures as envisaged to save water and electricity for our future generations. Really speaking, we all are force multipliers in right earnest to achieve successful results as determined , desired and deemed appropriate provided we all are sincere, dedicated and committed wholly.
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