Under 'new' district, these villages see no progress

The farmers, who had seen no progress even four years after they were included in the newly carved Chikaballapur district, were desperate that their problems were not ‘addressed by the elected representatives who come only to attend functions and not to heed their problems’.

As Radhabai, a resident, says their protest drew the attention of the deputy commissioner who came to them in hurry and listened to their woes. But no action has been taken yet.

“He assured that they would get us money from the Government, but we are not sure when we would get it,” she said.

Apart from the drought, the villages in Gauribidanur taluk are facing hardships due to lack of basic amenities. The taluk spread on 894 sqkm, has the highest number of gram panchayats (37 ) and revenue circles (65) in the district, has 219 residential and 20 non-residential villages. 

Majority of the population comprise Telugu-speaking and those from Lambani communities. The residents said no elected representatives have visited the villages to see their plight. With scarce rains and no water bodies such as tanks and lakes, the residents are dependent on borewells for their water requirement.

Of the total 14,580 borewells, many have dried up.

Anjanappa said: “The impact is serious on our next generation. As there is no irrigation and other facilities, our children are abandoning agriculture and migrating to Bangalore in search of jobs. Living has become an everyday struggle for us.”

Groundnut, sugar cane, tobacco, tur, paddy and ragi are the main crops. Apart from water, G Kotturu, D Palya, Huduguru in Gudibande and Gauribidanur taluks have poor infrastructure facilties.

The only a few asphalted roads are rid with potholes.

Narayanappa, a farmer, said: “Inclusion of our gram panchayat in the newly formed district has made no difference to our lives.” Even on the signboard, the village is still in the previous undivided Kolar district, so as the state of its development, he added.