PONDA: Toilet –Ek Prem Katha, a Bollywood movie, depicts a real life story wherein a woman leaves her husband on the first day of their marriage after discovering that the groom doesn’t have access to a toilet and the hero sets out on a mission to win back his love. In a similar situation, some youth in Ponda taluka who own Bagayat plantations, face problems in finding a bride if they don’t have an access road to their doorsteps.
Youth in remote areas in all the four constituencies of Ponda Taluka, especially those staying in Collagars Plantations (Arecanut/coconut Bagayats) face this problem. Sometimes it is the landlord who objects while in some cases despite getting NOCs few tenants find hurdles in constructing roads through Bagayats to their doorsteps. This problem often discourages brides to be in accepting proposals by the youth.
All four constituencies Priol, Ponda, Marcaim and Shiroda have Bagayats. Youth residing in these areas have secured jobs and also earn lucrative income from the Bagayats. However, girls prefer to marry youth who have direct access to the main road from their house, citing examples of medical emergency and pregnancy.
The interior area of Priol is one of the best examples, said a prospective bride. Not only at Priol, but also talukas in Ponda, Shiroda and Marcaim have a similar problem.
In absence of access roads, vehicles/bikes cannot be driven and one has to walk for 10/20 minutes to reach an access road.
Some youth residing in Marcaim and Dhavlim said girls are willing to marry them but the prospective brides reject their proposals for lack of access roads to their homes.
Some Priol youth in Bagayats said they have to walk for 800 metres to find access to roads. Villagers said they have often had to carry patients on their shoulders or prepare makeshift stretchers in case of medical emergencies.
