the goan I network
SANGUEM
By now, most families in the State would have had access to some essential food supplies since the Janata Curfew on March 22 and the subsequent lockdown.
But spare a thought for the plight of four families in the remote Zuna ward located in one hilly area of Bhati village in Sanguem taluka, who were virtually forgotten by politicians and association for nearly a month.
Their misery was finally lifted when the Sanguem Deputy Collector Ajay Gaude and a team of officials went to their hamlet and handed them some groceries and other essential items on Saturday.
“While politicians inquire about these four families at the time of elections, neither any political leader nor an NGO approached these four families during these times of crisis,” remarked a villager, Sada Velip.
Zuna ward of Bhati village is about 12 kms from Sanguem and about 2 kms from the Karnataka boundary and till date, lacks electricity, water, a proper road and transportation facility.
In the absence of any facility in the village, residents at Zuna ward are compelled to walk about 12 kms of rough road to reach Sanguem market to make purchases for groceries and other essential items.
Since day one of the lockdown and with access to both Karnataka and Goa sealed by authorities, residents were stranded and could not travel to Sanguem to purchase their essential supplies.
“Small children were constantly requesting their parents for biscuits and other snacks, but the parents were helpless to provide them with these snacks as they could not make any trip to Sanguem town. Almost all 18 villagers in the hamlet had run out of supplies and in the absence of communication facilities, were eagerly waiting for some aid from political leaders,” Velip added.
News about the plight of these 18 residents finally reached the attention of Sanguem Deputy Collector Ajay Gaude and he along with Sanguem Mamlatdar Manoj Korgaonkar rushed to Zuna on Saturday with almost a month’s supply of rice, pulses, biscuits, tea powder and other essential supplies.
The grateful villagers appreciated the efforts of the government officials in responding to their crisis.
