Senha, Dec 3 (ANI): Despite government initiatives, development activities continue to take a beating in Jharkhand, with villagers and students reeling under the looming fear of left-wing extremists.
A bridge, under-construction for the past several years, is yet to see the light of day in the Senha block of Jharkhand.
In the absence of the bridge, villagers in the area find commuting from one place to other difficult, particularly, during monsoons.
The bridge, whose foundation stone was laid by the first chief minister of Jharkhand, Babulal Marandi in 2004, was to be constructed across Koel River.
However, the ambitious project is far from complete and bears a deserted look today.Hundreds of severely rusted iron rods, unfinished concrete pillars and a dilapidated cement machine are scattered near the construction site.
Voicing their ire, villagers blamed the Maoists for the breakdown of developmental activities in the region.
"A bridge is being made in our village to facilitate transportation since the past many years. The first chief minister of Jharkhand, Babulal Marandi, had laid the foundation stone of this bridge. However, due to the fear of extremists and ultras, the bridge has still not been constructed. Not only this bridge, several other development works in the area are also suffering due to the looming fear of Maoists," said Ganesh Oraon, village head of Medhi in the Senha block.
Work on the bridge began in 2004, but soon ran into trouble after Maoist ultras allegedly halted the construction, having eyed funds worth Rs. 25 million used in the project.
Few residents also asserted that in the absence of infrastructure, falling ill meant little chance of survival.
"Due to the fear of extremists in the district, local villagers are facing a lot of difficulties. For instance, this bridge has still not been completed. If bridges like these are not built, it is the people who suffer. Students are finding it increasingly difficult to commute to their schools. They often miss their classes and their studies are suffering. During the monsoons, we virtually live on an island. If one falls ill during the rains, it means certain death. There is no way out," said Pradeep Singh, a former village head of Medhi.
Maoists fear that allowing construction of roads, bridges, culverts, schools and other state and central development programmes would enable the government to 'reach' poor tribals and villagers, who constitute a traditional support base of the ultras.
Consequently, contractors are threatened or killed, schools are torched, electric poles are pulled down and construction projects, which could lead to development, are halted.
Despite strong measures initiated by the federal government to crush the ultras, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country and spreading into 20 of India's 28 states.
The guerrilla war, waged mostly from the forests of central and eastern India by ultras of Communist Party of India-Maoist, poses the country's biggest internal security threat, say analysts.
The prime victims of the atrocities River are innocent villagers and tribals living in rural interiors. (ANI)
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