Dhargloon Dhargloon From Indpaedia This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. Dhargloon Dr Mohinder Kumar, Dhargloon devoid of jobs,amenities and infrastructure "Daily Excelsior" 6/12/2015 (http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/dhargloon-devoid-of-jobs-amenities-and-infrastructure/) Dhargloon Upper village is located in Balakote block of Poonch district, 10 km from Balakote town. The village is in precarious situation of being within range of firing and mortar shelling from Pakistan across LoC in Balakote Sector. Total area of village is 375 acres, of which common land is 63 acres (17%) and agricultural land 250 acres (67%). Common land is used for grass cultivation as village economy is dependent on milk animals. Village has implemented a social forestry project on 38 acres forest land. Area surrounding Dhargloon is forest land. There is no village level forest protection committee. Staff of Forest Department guards social forestry project and villagers are denied entry or access. Those who live near forest area have facility of grazing or cutting grass on specified limited area under the project. Villagers’ access to natural resources is poor. Dhargloon Upper is spread in eight wards and has 400 households with population of 3200 persons. Over 350 houses are kutcha. All households are Muslim (25% Gurjar and 75% Pahari Muslims). Gurjar households have Scheduled Tribe (ST) social status. Average size of holding is 0.63 acre. Farmers cultivate wheat, maize, vegetables and fruits (pear, apple and walnut) on rain fed land. Only 10% land is irrigated (“Chhaan” nallah). There is no perennial or snow-melt-based nallah. For drinking water there is one chashma. Three cards, namely Ration Card, Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and MNREGA Job Card are the life line of Dhargloon. Fortunately villagers have no issues with regard to ration cards even as all households have got this facility. Villagers feel survival is possible without ration card. Out of 400 farm households, 240 (60%) have got KCC; bank loan is sanctioned to only 50 KCC holders. KCC loan is a disquieting issue. Under MNREGA, Only 150 job cards are issued in the village of 1000 youths. MNREGA Job Cards are held back in the custody of Sarpanch/panches because job card holders rent-out their cards to 250 unemployed youth who do not have job cards but wander for work opportunities. Sometimes one youth uses Card and on some other day any other youth uses it. MNREGA job cards were reportedly issued to “special people (“khas log”). Of 1000 youths, 500 youths are educated up to post-graduation and 200 youths are graduates/ 12th class passed. Unemployment reigns supreme: 600 youths are unemployed; 100 youths are employed in government service; 50 youths migrated to Saudi Arabia to work as servants, laborers, unskilled jobs, etc. Each migrant sends remittance of Rs.1 lakh per year. Foreign migration and government job are major attractions but jobs are evasive even as opportunities eluded youths. Main occupation of village is wage-labor; farming is reduced to the status of allied occupation. Infrastructure in Dhargloon Upper is reported as existing in poor condition or non-existent. Village produces fruits though there is no market for selling. Almost entire produce is consumed within village. There is bank branch (J&K Bank) in Middle Dhargloon, which caters to the requirements of three villages of Dhargloon Upper, Middle and Lower. It is strange that despite good rains there is no watershed development; gushing rain water creates flood-like situation, destroying crops every year, followed by petty compensation. Patwari visits village every year and records crop loss. Idea of crop insurance is non-existent. Middle Dhargloon has one Government outlet for seed supply. Farmers use 60% seed requirement purchased from this outlet,