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Bardhanara, a village in Assam, is one of the nation’s most remote locations. Despite a nearby medical college, lack of roads and electricity make life tough.
According to the 2011 census, there were only 16 individuals left in the village. (Representative Image)
In Assam’s Ghograpara Circle, in the Nalbari district, sits an isolated village of Bardhanara, also referred to as No. 2 Bardhanara. Bardhanara village is only a kilometre from the Medical College in Nalbari, but getting there can be difficult because no roads connect the settlement to the city. This is not the most surprising fact. Bardhanara is also one of the most isolated villages in India, with only one family living there. Isn’t that strange? But that’s the reality of this village in Assam.
The only family residing in this village is that of Bimal Deka. For the past forty-five years, Deka, the family’s head, has been residing in a kutcha home (a temporary or makeshift dwelling). In addition, Deka’s wife Anima and their three kids, Naren, Dipali, and Seuti, make up the family.
It wasn’t always like this, though. In the last century, the village was a thriving one. But according to the 2011 census, there were only 16 individuals left. There is presently only one household.
As per reports, Seuti (the youngest) is in school, while Dipali and Naren have graduated. Since there is no electricity, the children study with kerosene lamps. Sometimes it gets so severe that when it rains, the family’s only means of mobility is the boat, as all of the village’s paths get flooded.
This village, which covers 162 hectares, was in a different condition a few decades ago. According to residents of the surrounding areas, the area’s condition wasn’t that pitiful until a few decades ago. Many residents left later when they got the resources to relocate, as per Bimal Deka.
Local organisations have repeatedly highlighted the family’s tenacity. Gramya Vikash Mancha, an NGO, has set up an agricultural farm in the village. This gives the family the much-needed support and interaction from outside sources.
Engineers have visited the area several times to evaluate the viability of building a road, but as of now, no tangible progress has been achieved. The family continues to struggle to obtain necessities.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
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