While the Central Government has made it easier for some persecuted minority community members from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to gain Indian citizenship through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), there are still some places in Uttarakhand where the residents are yet to enjoy all the rights of citizenship.
The residents of at least two villages in Haridwar district cast their votes in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, but do not have the right to vote in the Panchayat elections. This people living in the adjoining villages of Hazara Tongia and Haripur Tongia state that though their villages have been in existence since the colonial era they are still not able to vote in the Panchayat elections. Little has changed in these villages situated in the Bahadrabad development block of Jwalapur assembly constituency in Haridwar since the colonial era. These villages lack road, electricity supply, proper education and toilet facilities.
According to the villagers, these villages came into existence when those brought in for plantation work during the colonial era settled here.
At that time these people used to plant saplings for their livelihood.
The saplings grew into mature trees and woods but the descendents of those who planted the saplings continue to face apathy of the establishment.
The area they live in is neither under any municipal body nor under any Panchayat. The villagers mainly work as labourers to eke out their livelihood. In the absence of electricity supply, there are no televisions so the villagers rely mainly on the radio for the news.