The scheme of State government to provide basic facilities to Gujjar community remains elusive with the development works envisaged to uplift them being put in the backburner. The sorry state of things is thanks to fund crunch with no budget being sanctioned for the community by State government this year. Over Rs 20 crores budget awaits sanction from the State government, it is learnt.
In 2013, the State government had planned to provide basic facilities to 157 families of Gujjar community residing in the village Sambhalgarh of Shyampur area in Haridwar district. Under this plan, Rs 23 crore was sanctioned by the State government for the construction of hospital, pasture land, roads, toilets and installation of hand pumps. To initiate these infrastructural projects, an installment of Rs 1.5 crore was released in the financial year 2013-14. In the 2014-15 fiscal, the second installment was released with which the works of building roads and installing hand pumps were initiated. A ray of hope had emerged for the long forlorn community members to have living standards raised. But the upbeat spirit keeps on waning with the delay in the release of funds meant for the current year.
Despite the forest department officials having corresponded with the State government, the funds remain elusive. With five days left for the financial year to end, the community members are now looking forward to the thaw of the ice.
Kumwar Singh Bisht, a member of the community from Shyampur village said, “We were hoping that the by-lanes of our village would be constructed this year, but there is no sign of the construction work being resumed. The repair work was left half- done last year. This monsoon again, the people will have to swim their way to the highway.”
Speaking to The Pioneer SDO, forest department Sant Ram said, “For the development of the Van Gujjar Basti, just Rs three crore has been received till date. The current financial year closing in four days, the amount is yet to be released by the State government. Many construction works like toilets in every house, a kilometer long road, a government school, a government hospital, installation of hand pump in all houses and pasture land are yet to see completion.”