In the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Mana is a sleepy village (3 km from Badrinath) at a height of 3,219 metres. It is inhabited by 300 Bhutia families belonging to the mongoloid race. It is also the last village on the Indo-Tibetan border connected by the strategically important NH-58. It is facing all kinds of problems after natural disaster hit many villages in the higher hills and halted the ongoing Char Dham yatra.
Now, the village head Gayatri Molpa has said that the present situation of Mana village is pathetic as shopkeepers have closed their shops in absence of customers. With the halt of Char Dham Yatra, local guides and pony owners are jobless. ‘In fact, we helped the stranded pilgrims by providing food and shelter with the help of locals. But now, we are on the verge of starvation. No politician has ever landed on this village, after the catastrophe devastated us too. The callous attitude of Patwari is adding salt to our wounds. This is sensitive area as it lies near the border line,’ said Molpa.
The former head of Mana village, Pitambar Molpa, said that business is in doldrums. Woolen handicrafts worth of several lakhs of rupees are going waste in absence of buyers as all tourists have returned home. He added their village attracts customers from all parts of the country for potatoes, pulses and woolen clothes. They also grow off-seasonal vegetables like cabbage.
‘Prior to Char Dham season, we hoped we would do brisk business like in the previous year. But the natural disaster has shattered our dreams,’ said Pitambar.
A product of Delhi University, Pitambar added that the state and district administration is totally focussed on the evacuating and rescuing pilgrims that have come from other states. But nobody is taking care for the stranded villagers. ‘Our many youths work in cities, but they are stranded here due to debris on roads on Delhi-Mana Highway. We requested to local administration, but it all fall on the deaf ears,’ Pitambar added.
Devendra Molpha, another inhabitant of Mana village, said, ‘Three weeks have elapsed since devastation, but no political leader or administrative officer has paid visit. Now, we have limited food stock. How long we can survive? The villagers are on the verge of starvation. Some families have got flour, rice and two litres of kerosene oil. Do you think this is enough for disaster-hit families,’ he asks.
Former chief minister of Uttarakhand Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, who has extensively toured the disaster ravaged state, has alleged that the state government having evacuated the pilgrims has forgotten about the villagers who are living in a state of starvation.
Now, the village head Gayatri Molpa has said that the present situation of Mana village is pathetic as shopkeepers have closed their shops in absence of customers. With the halt of Char Dham Yatra, local guides and pony owners are jobless. ‘In fact, we helped the stranded pilgrims by providing food and shelter with the help of locals. But now, we are on the verge of starvation. No politician has ever landed on this village, after the catastrophe devastated us too. The callous attitude of Patwari is adding salt to our wounds. This is sensitive area as it lies near the border line,’ said Molpa.
The former head of Mana village, Pitambar Molpa, said that business is in doldrums. Woolen handicrafts worth of several lakhs of rupees are going waste in absence of buyers as all tourists have returned home. He added their village attracts customers from all parts of the country for potatoes, pulses and woolen clothes. They also grow off-seasonal vegetables like cabbage.
‘Prior to Char Dham season, we hoped we would do brisk business like in the previous year. But the natural disaster has shattered our dreams,’ said Pitambar.
A product of Delhi University, Pitambar added that the state and district administration is totally focussed on the evacuating and rescuing pilgrims that have come from other states. But nobody is taking care for the stranded villagers. ‘Our many youths work in cities, but they are stranded here due to debris on roads on Delhi-Mana Highway. We requested to local administration, but it all fall on the deaf ears,’ Pitambar added.
Devendra Molpha, another inhabitant of Mana village, said, ‘Three weeks have elapsed since devastation, but no political leader or administrative officer has paid visit. Now, we have limited food stock. How long we can survive? The villagers are on the verge of starvation. Some families have got flour, rice and two litres of kerosene oil. Do you think this is enough for disaster-hit families,’ he asks.
Former chief minister of Uttarakhand Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, who has extensively toured the disaster ravaged state, has alleged that the state government having evacuated the pilgrims has forgotten about the villagers who are living in a state of starvation.