Modi to visit village not on revenue records
Gandhi-nu-gam or Gandhigram, the name sounds patriotic, but the hamlet in Kutch district, despite its real existence, is a non-existent entity on the government records. Interestingly, chief minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries are all set to visit the 'non-existent' village during the Rannotsav.
Though the village came into existence way back in 2001, it is yet to get the status of a village on the revenue records. Modi, along with cabinet and ambassadors of several countries, will visit this village during the much-hyped Rannotsav on Friday.
"Gandhi-nu-gam was created out of Ludiya after the devastating earthquake in 2001. For the predominant population of Dalits, the village is a beautiful place to live, for it has artistic Bhungas (thatched huts) made up of mud and grass to thwart any earthquakes.
Mostly foreigners visit our village as it is famous for handicraft, clay work and wood work. We have sent countless representations and even handed over a memorandum to the chief minister during last Rannotsav in February last. Here, the Dalits do not get the benefits of a regular village. In fact, Modi would be visiting our village third time as chief minister," Vaiyal Node, the sarpanch of the village who is also the vice president of the Kutch district minority cell of the BJP, told DNA.
He said that Ludiya village has been facing water problem. "We get water once in a week under a water supply scheme of the water supply board. The supply is only three to four hours. We are proud that ours is the only village in the Pachham area to have been selected for the second consecutive Rannotsav as a showcase village because ours being the village of artisans," an enthusiast looking Node said.
The visit of the CM and his entourage is limited to all-Dalit Gandhigram and all the villagers are all set to welcome the dignitaries from home and abroad.
"We have mud plastered our Bhungas afresh. Normally, we do this before Diwali but since the dignitaries are coming to our hamlet, we have to beautify our houses to welcome them. We have cleaned the streets at our own cost because we consider Rannotsav as our own festival,'' Marvada Khajur Kanya, a resident, said and demanded immediate revenue status for their hamlet.
District collector and chief organiser of the Rannotsav, RR Varsani, was not available for comment. Additional collector GC Waghela said that it was not the time to raise such an issue when they were busy with the Rannotsav preparations and added that the issue would be taken up later on and needful would be promptly done.
