Photo: Prakhar Pandey
Garhi Bolni village in Rewari district had been ignored by the State for many years, as it was identified too closely with Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh, who had challenged CM Hooda for long and then finally switched sides to the BJP. The decision to join the saffron party proved right for the Rewari scion, and also lucky for the residents of this historic village, which traces roots back to the 12th. century. In a fortunate turn of events, Garhi Bolni has been adopted by Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh under the 'Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana' (SAGY) - the MP Model Village Scheme - that was launched recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per the Yojana, which is a demand driven model for village development, each MP will take the responsibility of developing the physical and institutional infrastructure of 3 villages by 2019 (of which 1 should be completed by 2016). The MP has to ensure the villages' upliftment, by laying special emphasis on areas like education, health, water, toilets and general sanitation. Garhi Bolni is a sprawling village very close to NH 8, just on the Haryana-Rajasthan border. The Village falls in Bawal tehsil of Rewari district. Fortunately Garhi Bolni has the basic foundation on which a super-structure could be developed. Bolni has had a village Primary school since the 1940s, and the current 10 plus 2 school is very popular. The local post office was set up by the British even before Independence. The Village, which is at the centre of almost 40 villages, also serves as a market for a number of nearby villages of Rajasthan. Ramesh Chand, the Naib Tehsildar (who also has a farm in Gurgaon) says that the Village has strong connections with the Rewari Royal family for centuries, and has been historically connected with the Raos. "We supported Rao Birender Singh (ex-CM) in the past, and now the entire area supports Rao Inderjit Singh, who has championed the cause of South Haryana. We are fortunate that Rao Saheb has adopted Bolni for development as a model village," says Ramesh Chand.
With the presence of more than a few South Haryana MPs/MLAs in the new BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the State, the people believe that proper development will soon come their way. Citing their immediate needs, Ramesh Chand says that lack of drinking water is a major issue, as the entire village has to buy water from tanker owners for drinking purposes. "Either we have to buy water or instal an RO-system so that we get sweet water, as the underground water is heavily saline and not fit for human consumption," he says. Every month the villagers spend almost Rs 2 lakhs for buying drinking water. The issue of water, says Devender, a resident, is crucial for Garhi Bolni, as people do not like to feel dependent on outsiders for such a basic necessity. The residents are now expecting that either a water pipeline or a water treatment plant would come up under the Model Village plan. The second priority is to get better facilities for the Village school, as it caters to a large population from the neighbouring ten villages - and even those across the border in Rajasthan. The village also want that a college or at least a technical education institute should be set up, as the school students, particularly girls, have no other options for higher education. Naib Tehsildar Ramesh Chand, whose family earlier donated a large chunk of land to the village school, says that they will fully support the government if it plans to set up a college. Garhi Bolni village is proud to have produced a number of talented students, who have gone on to achieve big success in their chosen domains. Two brothers from the Village are presently serving as IAS officers, and more than a few are senior army officers. A number of young boys and girls have also gone to Europe and America, to pursue higher education.
After the announcement of Garhi Bolni being chosen for the Model Village scheme, many groups have called on the Gurgaon MP and expressed their thanks. The villagers are happy that their undying loyalty to the Rewari scion has been rewarded. Rajesh, a youth who is looking for employment, says that apart from health and education the government will have to ensure that locals are able to get jobs in neighbouring industrial areas. "The local youth are not given jobs in the local factories, and this is creating unrest," he says. Notably, the issue of giving preference to the local youth for employment has been raised by Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh repeatedly. The Village residents add that the preference given to workers from other parts of the State (like Rohtak) and from other States during the Hooda regime, has been a major reason why the industrial climate has been vitiated in the Gurgaon-Manesar-Bawal industrial complex. Had the majority of workers been local there would not have been an incident like that in Maruti, asserts a senior resident. A number of senior citizens in the Village, led by Om Prakash want a proper sewerage system in the village to be set up, as currently the sewage water has no outlet and is being routed to the village pond. This large pond, on the eastern periphery, is now fairly polluted, and is surrounded by heaps of plastic and garbage. Om Prakash wants the pond to be cleaned and revived, as it could serve as a water harvesting structure and help boost the ground water quality in the village. An alternative proposal is to fill the pond with soil and convert it into a stadium! The village elders say that there is also a need for a local hospital. The Primary Health Centre in the village is almost non-functional, and even for a minor ailment the residents have to visit nearby Rewari. Regarding the economy, Ramesh Chand says that people from almost 40 nearby villages come to Bolni for shopping, as it is a traditional market – although many large traders have shifted to Rewari and Gurgaon. Garhi Bolni village is a peaceful village, and has never witnessed any communal or caste strife, say locals. The villagers come from 36 castes and communities, which have been living in peace for ages. Though a large number of Muslim residents migrated to Karachi during Partition, they set up a Bolni Mohalla there!
Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit, while conveying his decision to the Centre and the State government, has said a Village Development Plan is being prepared, with a focus on the poorer households. There will also be emphasis on personal and social development (like the inculcation of moral values, hygienic behaviour, daily exercises, saying no to alcohol, dignity of labour, volunteerism, respect for women, honouring the elders and building a violence and crime free village). Economically, the Plan includes various aspects like diversified agriculture, dairy and livestock and adoption of organic farming. Environment consciousness too needs to be developed. Haryana Agriculture and Development & Panchayat Minister, Om Prakash Dhankhar has said that the villages under the Adarsh Gram scheme will soon offer their residents a more wholesome quality of life, so that the residents feel proud to stay there and feel no need to look outwards. Dhankhar says that, under the Yojana, the MPs have to identify and select the Adarsh Gram, they have to engage with the community in the village, propagate the values of the scheme, facilitate the planning process and initiate start up activities to build the right environment.
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