Guwahati: As the Panchayat elections approach, residents of Dhekiyabari village in Assam’s Boko constituency have intensified their longstanding demands for basic infrastructure, underscoring years of government neglect.
Despite being part of Ward No. 7 under the No. 28 Uttar Boko Gaon Panchayat, the village remains deprived of even fundamental amenities like paved roads and concrete bridges, decades after India’s independence.
Villagers report that not a single pucca road or permanent bridge has been constructed in Dhekiyabari, forcing the community to rely on treacherous kuccha pathways that become nearly impassable during the rainy season. Makeshift bamboo footbridges and crumbling wooden planks serve as the only means to cross local streams and waterlogged areas, posing daily dangers to residents, especially schoolchildren, the elderly, and the infirm.
The situation has led to frequent accidents, with multiple reports of injuries and even fatalities attributed to the fragile and unsafe bridges. Despite persistent appeals to the authorities, the pleas of Dhekiyabari’s residents have largely gone unheard, fueling resentment and frustration ahead of the elections.
Criticism has also mounted against sitting Boko MLA Nandita Das, who has been elected twice but is accused by locals of failing to bring about any substantial improvements to the village’s crumbling infrastructure. As polling day nears, the villagers’ cries for basic necessities stand as a stark reminder of promises unfulfilled and hopes deferred.