Team Herald
QUEPEM: Quepem Constituency needs some basic facilities, especially for the people living in remote villages without electricity, regular water supply, proper sanitation, connectivity and jobs. Another major need is of better medical facilities for the residents of the remote villages who for any treatment, whether maternity or other, have to travel long distances.
This is also mining area and the delays to restart operations are affecting the people. Caverm mining dependent Mangesh Devidas said that people whose lives have been closely linked to the mining industry thought operations would resume soon, but are frustrated by the delay.
“People who are jobless due to stoppage of mining activities face issues in feeding their families. People have shifted outside the village to Quepem, Curchorem market areas where they have taken up other jobs. This is the reality of Caverm village.”
He added, “Mining truck owner face problems to undertake maintenance of vehicles and struggle to pay insurance.”
At Awadem, the requirements are different. “The biggest problem we face is the bridge. The first priority is to confirm that the bridge is safe for commuting on it. We have residents, school children, ambulances, different types of vehicles plying on it and it is a big risk,” said Joe Fernandes. The demand from the villagers is that something be done with the present bridge, or build a new one.
Khola resident Ashirwaya Ameya Prabhu Desai said, “We have drinking water and electricity issues. The village is dependent on tourism but there is no empowerment for the locals as many youth are without jobs. There is no internal village transport and people have to walk long distances to reach the market.
Similarly in Barcem water and electricity supply are issues that remain to be solved.
“We live in a most remote area. During elections politicians come and ask about difficulties and promises are made. Our village still has mud houses. We have public transport problems and there is no proper ambulance services during emergencies, so we have to rush to hospital by private vehicles,” said Nagraj Lotlikar.
Quepem businessman Gaurav Naik said that the Quepem market has no CCTV camera system and this has led to robbery and theft. “We still lack health facilities which is major issue faced by the locals from the Quepem.”
People also seek better education facilities, reasoning that if the education is good at private schools why shouldn’t it be the same at government schools.
“Village schools should have all modern facilities so that kids learn in the villages. Now there are online classes but many remote areas have no connectivity, said one resident of Quepem.
