Dhar (Madhya Pradesh): Neither toilet nor paved road - this is the reality in the home area of district panchayat president Sardar Singh Meda and Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar. The situation was revealed after RTI activist Sunil Sawant visited Jamanyapada village under Panch Piplya gram panchayat under Gandhwani Assembly.

Villagers struggle with lack of roads Villagers claimed that they face major problems during the rainy season due to lack of culverts. They can only reach the village after the water subsides. The village also lacks basic facilities like toilets and a proper road network.

Despite lakhs and crores of rupees being allocated by governments for village development, remote areas continue to struggle with lack of basic amenities. Funds not utilised for village development Many applications have been submitted to district authorities regarding problems, but no action has been taken even after two years.

The proposal to connect the village to the main road through Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was also passed in the Gram Sabha, but no departmental help was received to implement it.

Lack of awareness about PESA act RTI activist found that villagers and Sarpanch lack knowledge about Provisions of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act), which gives special powers to gram sabhas in scheduled areas.

Discrepancy in fund utilisation In the last four years, the government has sanctioned lakhs of rupees but the work has only begun in Ghatikhodra and Gwalmagri villages. Maximum problems were in Jamanyapada, but no work has been undertaken there.

Lack of political will despite veteran leaders Interestingly, Gram Panchayat Panch Pipalya is just 3-4 kilometres away from the home area of district panchayat president Sardar Singh Meda and the village is also part of Gandhwani Assembly constituency represented by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar. Despite the presence of these two influential leaders, development seems to have been neglected.