No matter which party is in power, South Garo Hills continues to remain abandoned by the state government, self-described social activist Clinton R Marak has said today, pointing to the district’s atrocious roads as a prime example.
“Improving road conditions and transportation networks are basic developmental projects and to get proper healthcare services is the fundamental right of every citizen of India,” he said in a release today. “As compared with other districts, South Garo Hills has been abandoned by state governments for a long period of time,” whether under the leadership of DD Lapang, Dr Mukul Sangma or the current Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Just a few weeks ago, frustrated NGOs, women’s groups and the public held a rally in Gasuapara and Baghmara regarding major repairs of National Highway 62 (217) and early construction of the road.
On September 16 an ambulance carrying a pregnant patient got stuck in potholes on a muddy stretch at Cherengpara for an hour. Despite heavy bleeding, she was still able to reach Tura in time to receive treatment.
However, yesterday a government sports coach, Novem G Momin, was not so fortunate. He suffered a stroke while playing football and was taken to Baghmara Civil Hospital. Due to a lack of medical equipment, Marak said, he had to be taken to Tura but died on the way.
“Where roads are impassable, patients may not be able to receive necessary medical care in a timely manner and it’s obvious this leads to preventable deaths,” Marak said, saying this is common in South Garo Hills now. “How long will South Garo Hills suffer and who will take away our suffering? We as a civilised society cannot continue to ignore the crumbling infrastructure of our roads. It is affecting citizens’ daily lives and sometimes it is affecting people’s lives too.”
