CIRCA 2017... . Even as people are still greeting each other "Happy New Year" and the country is abuzz with the national "revv" of sorts of going digi-TALL, Herald, on its campaign trail, steps on to a somewhat tough turf.

Believe it or not, here the mountains stand in the way of sun rays and shroud the village into complete darkness even before sunset!

Travel for km in search of mobile network, some struggle for basic infrastructure while others cry for communication and medical emergencies.

Is it "WELCOME" to Surla? Or tread into Surla, by mistake? A remote village in the North Goa district, Surla is located on the Goa-Karnataka border in Sattari taluka which is home to some 500 odd people. surla is totally isolated from rest of the State and in a way dependent on the neighboring state of Karnataka.

Local villagers describe themselves as unlucky and totally stuck on a patch of land where even a local daily newspaper struggles to find its path to its readers.

“Life here is a struggle which is engulfed by darkness even during late afternoon, with a population of 450-500, this village faces severe shortage of emergency facilities and this is nothing new. Surla has been neglected for decades. Development has hit a roadblock,” said Rithesh Gawas, a resident.

People here aren't even aware of the BREAKING NEWS! after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on November 8, 2016, on a national address announced demonetisation, no one in Surla was aware till next afternoon when some elders had visited nearby village of Keri-Sattari. 

The village also lacks communication facilities and is totally dependent on the neighboring state (Karnataka) for wireless mobile telephone service.

“There aren't mobile networks available here; we have to totally depend on Karnataka for landline facilities. On one hand Modi is talking about digital India and here locals struggle to even get a single bar of mobile network,” said Deepak Goankar

Most of the youth have left homes and have migrated to other towns and cities in the state in search of jobs as unemployment has haunted the village. Lack of public transport facilities have also left the villagers fuming.

Another resident Sitarama Gaonkar said, "Why is the government talking about cashless economy in Goa? Visit Surla to witness a magical journey with deaf  and dumb mobiles, extinct medical facilities and invisible banks and ATMs.”

With elections approaching, locals in the village are seen carrying out their daily chores even as the poll bugle has resonanced in other parts of the state and poll activities are are seen elsewhere, Surla, it seems, is untouched.

Asked about voting scenario in the deserted village, V. Gaonkar explained “with just a population of 450-500, political parties are least interested and the same goes with the locals here it’s like vote or no vote, the village will remain as it is with no development.”

 This village is surrounded by some splendid nature and one such example is the Sural Falls which snuggles through the beautiful Western Ghats.

“However, the government has not made any efforts to develop and promote tourism here by setting up cottages or tents which can in turn benefit locals with some income," said Prashant M Gaonkar.

Meanwhile, the village completely lacks medical facilities; locals have to travel about 45 km to a nearby town known as Keri, where the primary health centre in housed. In case of an emergency, the villagers have to resign to destiny.

“There are no medical facilities in the village, we have to travel all the way to Keri or Sankhali for medical help. Till date, no ambulance has not reached this remote village. The government spends so much on other things, why can't they set up a small medical centre in the village,” Prashant concluded.