Located about 80 km from Delhi, Nuh, mostly inhabited by Meo Muslims, is the most backward region in Haryana marred by poor literacy rate, unemployment and low per capita income.
Besides lack of opportunities for higher education in the region, poor connectivity with Delhi is another factor blamed for the present state of affairs.
Rail connectivity with Delhi has been one of the most long-pending demands of the people of the region. Despite an announcement in the 2013 Railway Budget by then United Progressive Alliance government, the project is yet to see the light of the day.
Former Haryana Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed said an ambitious project to connect Delhi to Alwar via Nuh through a railway line was announced by then Union Railway Minister Pawan Bansal. However, the project was put on the back burner with a change in regime a year later.
“The cost of the project was estimated to be ₹1,000 crore and a letter was given to the Union Ministry on behalf of then Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda offering to bear 50% of the total cost,” he said.
Spearheading a campaign on the issue, Hamara Adhikar Morcha (HAM) convener Mohammad Younus Alvi said: “In reply to a RTI application in July 2013, the Department concerned furnished a map of the project and the estimated cost. As per the reply, the 104-km railway line was slated to pass through 38 villages of Nuh with stations at Sohna, Nuh and Ferozepur Jhirka.”
‘Huge profits’
“When farmers in Rewari, Hodal and Palwal growing vegetables can earn huge profits by selling produce in Gurugram and Faridabad due to better connectivity, farmers in Nuh, if connected by rail, will be able to fetch three times the price for their produce in Delhi compared to what they get now. Railway stations will also create job opportunities for the locals,” said Mr. Alvi.
Alleging that there seemed to be a larger political conspiracy to deny better education opportunities and connectivity to Nuh and keep the people of the region illiterate and poor, the former district councillor said the proposed rail connectivity can turn around the fortunes of the region.
Advocate Akhtar Hussain, a local, said a vast majority of the population in Nuh was involved in agriculture and animal rearing, but was exploited by middlemen. “While milk in bigger cities sells for ₹40-₹50 per litre, it is sold for ₹18-₹20 in Nuh. Better connectivity will help the locals break free from the clutches of middlemen and fetch higher prices for milk and milk products,” he said.
Though several social organisations have been demanding rail connectivity for the region over the past few years, demonstrations became rare after the 2013 announcement. However, HAM, with support from various organisations, has renewed the demand for rail connectivity for Nuh.
Demonstrations are being held at village and block levels to garner support for a bigger demonstration at the district level later this year.
