Neglect persists in Thatha Hakiman despite ombudsman's orders

Health issues soar, residents await promised improvements since 2015

SARGODHA:

Residents of Thatha Hakiman, a village under Sahiwal's jurisdiction, have expressed deep frustration over the persistent lack of basic facilities despite repeated assurances from the authorities.

The village continues to grapple with broken roads, a choked drainage system, contaminated drinking water, and inadequate health services despite directives from the Punjab Ombudsman dating back to 2015.

Ahmed Nawaz Dhuddi, a local resident, voiced his disappointment: "Commitments were made and paperwork was completed years ago, but nothing has materialised on the ground," he said.

Another resident, Rai Sher Ali, highlighted that the Punjab ombudsman had intervened and directed Sargodha's local administration to include the village in the 2016-17 Annual Development Projects. However, these orders have yet to translate into tangible action, leaving residents' complaints unheard.

The village's deteriorating conditions, including stagnant water that fosters serious health risks, have exacerbated residents' hardships.

"Many villagers have fallen victim to hepatitis due to the infiltration of contaminated water," Sher Ali noted. He pointed out that while drainage systems have been built on three sides of the village, a large pond filled with wastewater still poses a significant hazard.

Other locals have raised concerns about the prevalence of chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, underscoring the scarcity of affordable medical services. One resident stressed that the high mortality rate in the area is partly due to a lack of gynecologists at the Rural Health Centre (RHC).

Haji Ghulam Ali, another villager, reported that the provincial health secretary was directed by the ombudsman in February 2015 to establish a dispensary in the village, but no action has been taken to date.

The residents have called on the government to install water filtration plants to ensure access to clean drinking water.

In response, Deputy Commissioner of Sargodha Captain (retd) Muhammad Wasim stated that development funds for the district council had been suspended.

However, he assured that once funds were reinstated, providing essential facilities to the village would be a priority.

The deputy commissioner also directed relevant authorities to distribute medicines and conduct anti-mosquito spraying to mitigate health risks in the locality.

Despite these assurances, the residents of Thatha Hakiman remain skeptical and continue to wait for meaningful change.