Tembhali, a remote village with a population of 1,552 in the Satpura range of tribal-dominated Nandurbar district, wears a festive look. It has undergone a total facelift with tarred roads, painted walls, banners and posters — largely of the ruling Congress party — and uninterrupted power supply.
The reason for this makeover: the village will host the launch of the Centre’s much-vaunted Unique Identification programme, or Aadhaar, by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday. Some 15 villagers are expected to receive an Aadhaar number at the function, while the rest of the village is likely to be covered under the scheme in the near future.
Not surprisingly, Tembhali — inhabited primarily by small and marginal farmers, but also housing 189 landless families — suddenly finds itself thrown into the limelight, not only by the world’s press, but also by the administration due to the Aadhaar inauguration. The village has virtually turned into a fortress, with the presence of state, central and paramilitary forces.
More than 2,000 state police personnel, in addition to three companies of the Special Protection Group and 20 senior IPS officials (including officials from the Intelligence Bureau) have been deployed here. The state government is leaving no stone unturned as far as security is concerned. More importantly, special branch officials and staff have been asked to mingle with locals to gather intelligence against the backdrop of the Ayodhya judgement.
A visit to the village reveals that the residents are anxious about the scheme, but are more worried about their daily life and uncertain future. A farmer expressed happiness with the upcoming visit by the dignitaries, but wanted to know whether the facelift would be temporary in nature or provide a necessary boost to development.
In another locality, a housewife was not bothered about Tembhali village receiving world attention; all she was worried about is the future of her children. Such stories are heard in several corners of the village. Still, an octogenarian expressed optimism and felt that a transformation would take place, provided corruption could be curbed. “We sincerely hope the Aadhaar number will be of great help,” he said.
Prime Minister Singh and Sonia Gandhi, after a noon landing at special helipads constructed in the premises of a cooperative sugar factory and college, will then proceed to Tembhali and meet the villagers. The distribution of Aadhaar numbers will take place in the sprawling grounds of the sugar factory.
Former Congress legislator Chandrakant Raghuvansi told Business Standard: “Nearly 200,000 people are going to attend the function, which will be addressed by the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi.”
Security agencies have erected barricades covering a distance of 5 km. While at the same time, representatives of self-help groups will set up 20 stands for free distribution of drinking water at the function.
Taj staff to serve PM, Sonia
A platoon of 100 staff members of the Taj Mahal hotel, who have been specially brought in, will serve a variety of fare to the VVIPs that include PM Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The dignitaries will be served lunch at the renovated guest house of a cooperative sugar factory. The menu includes continental, Italian, Maharashtrian and Punjabi dishes such as zhunka bhakar, khichadi, dal-rice, puran polie (a Maharashtrian sweet), tandoori dishes and pasta.
