Deserted!

Communities living in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan have been abandoned by all stakeholders

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THE Thar Desert-one of the world's most distinctive deserts renowned for its stunning vistas and extensive cultural history-is also home to indigenous people and immigrants who are fighting for their survival, especially in the Barmer and Jaisalmer regions in the Indo-Pak border area.

The population of the area is diverse-consisting of Rajputs, Jats, Bishnois, Meghwals and other groups, each with their own customs and cultural practices.

The socio-economic situation of the people in this area is tough, to say the least. Water scarcity and drought are widespread and recurring problems that affect livestock and crop output. There is seasonal migration and many of the local people work in agriculture, construction and other industries. The opportunities for children are limited since it's a struggle to provide access to education in remote areas. In some regions, there aren't many healthcare centres, so getting medical care can be very challenging.

After speaking with the residents of several villages in Sheo, an assembly in Barmer district of western Rajasthan close to the Indo-Pak border, we found that connectivity, healthcare, power, education and agriculture needed urgent attention. As compared to other parts of the country, where people have access to 5G network connectivity, these areas and its residents are still decades behind. People in these locations don't have even simple network connectivity. They are so powerless that when they have any kind of health problem, they simply prefer to die because there aren't adequate medical facilities or even basic medical services. Rajasthan has several schemes and services, but on the ground, the western part of the state is totally ignored. And due to this neglect, the residents are suffering. Children are still hoping for a source of formal education.