-- Samir Umarye
BICHOLIM: A family in Bicholim does not know what “parivartan” means. Nor does it know what “acche din” could ever be. The Falkar family from New Wada – Pilgao in Bicholim is one that has perhaps faced the worst possible apathy from elected representatives and government departments. Three generations of the family have been forced to spend their life without electricity and water. Ashok Falkar, 59, and his wife Anita, 55, along with three children have been made to run from pillar-to-post seeking for even just a temporary electricity connection for a few days, so that their daughter who is in the SSC can study for the exams. They don’t live in any remote village, but just five kms from the main Bicholim town area and are represented by deputy Speaker Anant Shet. “We have been staying here since the last 50 years without any electricity or water connection. We have almost become used to this but this year one of my daughters is in the SSC and it has become a major problem for her to study without electricity.” Says Ashok. Ashok has three children – two daughters and a son – who are studying in Pilgao. While the eldest daughter Anisha is in SSC, the second daughter Pratibha is in Class VII while the son Manohar is still in the primary. Ashok tried his best to get an electricity connection but every time he did there was someone who objected to it because of personal rivalry. “I have permission from the owner of the land but every time the electricity poles are erected someone or the other raises an objection,” Ashok claimed. It is more than six years that Ashok has demanded with the Electricity department for a connection. He also approached Shet who promised assistance but the promises are still to see the ‘light’ of the day. “I had given a letter to the deputy speaker and our MLA on August 28, 2012, seeking an electricity connection and he had also assured to fulfill my demands but even after three years nothing has happened. He told us to do the electrical wiring in the house and we spent about Rs 5000 on the same but after that there was only ‘darkness’ as no one turned up later,” Ashok laments. Anita is also upset over the situation. “We have heard that as per the court guidelines a house cannot be kept without electricity and water connections, then how is it that we are still without these basic necessities?” questions Anita. “As we do not have water we are forced to fetch water from the nearby pond or during the monsoon depend upon the water that drips down the roof. We get three litres of kerosene every month from the panchayat but that is not sufficient and later we either depend on candles or borrow the kerosene from the villagers,” Anita says. The Falkar family has a small farm and are dependent upon it. The three children who also work in the farm during the day study with the help of kerosene lamp or candles at night. “There are many difficulties that we have to face but we have no other option” says Anisha who will answer her SSC exam in March next year. “Even if there is no electricity I will study and pass in the exams,” she adds confidently. The case of the Falkar family is with the North Goa collector and Ashok will have to attend to it on Monday. He demands that the collector consider his request and sanction the required connections to his house.
