Editor,
It is really painful to learn that the poor parents three-hour trek from Domkyrkoh to Mawdet proved fatal when the sick infant died midway. The devastated family had to return to the village empty handed, without getting any medical treatment for the victim.
The heart-wrenching incident has shocked everyone. It highlighted bad road condition for which villagers continue to walk for hours for basic healthcare, education and markets, paying the price for decades of neglect.
Surprisingly, the grim reality exposed in Domkyrkoh village when an ailing infant died at his mother’s while being carried on foot for medical help. It is really sad to say that even after fifty four years of attaining statehood, Meghalaya’s rural road connectivity, which is the backbone of the state’s economy remains empty rhetoric for thousands living in rural interior.
Despite the foundation stone for a Rs 25 crore,10 km road project was done earlier, connection Mainop, Mawiong, Rambrai and Domkyrkoh areas, the project has not been implemented.
Now, question arises who will take the responsibility for the death of the infant? Why does the state government think its task is over on announcement of the project? Is it not the duty of the government to ensure the execution of the project? Does it not reflect the failure of governance? The tragic death of the infant must serve as an eye-opener for all stakeholders including the state government.
Iqbal Saikia
