This village lacks an approach road

Going nowhere

While it is unlike several other villages, that lack such facilities, Ragimakalahalli is similar to them in at least one way- it has no good road connection.
Situated in Thimmasandra Gram Panchayat limits, the village, also called Shilaridinne, has up to 11 houses, seven of these are huts. There are about 60 people, with nine children less than 13 years old.

The children walk all the way to the higher primary school in Halehalli, which is four km away. The reason they walk, rather than ride bicycles is the village has no road constructed for such use.

Lakshmana Reddy, headmaster of the school, says no child in Ragimakalahalli is kept away from school. “No child even skips school. They are all intelligent, talented students, scoring high marks in exams.”

Reddy, however, agrees that the children have a very difficult time reaching school, especially in rainy season, when the two tanks in the village are filled with water. “All connection with the village is cut. We are often forced to end classes early and send the kids home so they can reach home before nightfall,” he added.

The residents of the village describe the problems they have because of a lack of proper roads.

“We cannot call an ambulance in times of medical emergency. In fact, other vehicles too refuse to come to our village,” Lakshmidevamma, a resident of Ragimakalahalli complained, speaking to Deccan Herald.

“We are forced to carry the sick on our backs and walk at least five km before reaching the hospitals at Chintamani, Thimmasandra or Dibburahalli. If we cannot carry them, we can expect a death,” she added.

Narayanappa, a farmer, narrated the problems they have because of a lack of roads. Purchase of grocery requires them to travel five to eight km, till Halehalli, Thimmasandra or Korlaparthi. “Although we own rain-dependent agricultural fields, the produce is not enough to sustain us. Everybody has to go to Halehalli or Kariyappanahalli for daily labour.”

No family from nearby villages wants to build a relation with the families in Ragimakalahalli. “We are often forced to beg for girls from our own relations for our boys,” Narayanappa explained.

Doddakondappa is the senior-most resident of the village, having migrated to Ragimakalahalli from Kolimipalli in Bagepalli taluk 60 years ago. “We have often think of getting out of the village, but are always apprehensive about it, wondering where else to go. Many families, however, have already shifted out of Ragimakalahalli,” he said.