Residents grapple with sewage, garbage disposal, drug addiction woes in Tarsika

Residents of Tarsika village face numerous problems, ranging from inadequate civic amenities to pressing societal issues. Sewage facilities are non-existent, forcing locals to dispose of wastewater in open areas, resulting in unhygienic conditions.

Resham Singh, a resident, stated that all roads in the village are metalled and in good condition. Tarsika is connected to Jandiala Guru via ten roads on the Amritsar–Jalandhar GT Road. However, no government authority has laid sewerage pipes to manage wastewater, compelling residents to release it in the open, which poses serious health risks.

Compounding the problem of civic amenities is the irregular disposal of garbage on roadsides, creating unhygienic surroundings. Singh noted that even after decades, a designated disposal ground has not been established.

The village drain, constructed to channel floodwater, is now overgrown with unwanted vegetation and hyacinth. Alarmed by recent floods in Ajnala, residents are demanding that the drain be properly cleaned.

Among societal issues, rampant drug addiction among youth is a major concern. In 2017, the government established an Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centre at the village Community Health Centre (CHC), but it has failed to curb the problem. Its in-charge, Harpal Singh, said approximately 500 people visit the centre daily for de-addiction, making it one of the busiest OOAT centres in the district.

An elderly resident recalled that over fifty years ago, only two types of intoxicants were available: country-made liquor for ordinary people and opium for the affluent. Today, numerous intoxicants are easily accessible, with the politico-police nexus often held responsible. Addiction is a major challenge not only in Tarsika but also in surrounding villages. Residents seeking de-addiction visit the OOAT centre at the CHC.

The CHC itself is poorly staffed, with the majority of posts vacant. Previously, specialists and surgeons were available, but now the centre lacks even a surgeon, forcing patients needing minor procedures to travel elsewhere.

Similar issues affect the Government Senior Secondary School, where half of the teaching posts remain vacant. The village does, however, have numerous private schools and around fifteen hospitals run by private individuals who charge fees at their discretion.

Tarsika also has a sub-tehsil, police station, agriculture office, post office, four branches of nationalised banks and a veterinary hospital. The office of Food and Supply, however, remains vacant.

Residents’ major demands to the government include the establishment of at least a government college, an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) to impart skills to youth and a modern hospital with adequate facilities.