After a 75-year struggle, the residents of Lahuria Dah Village in Mirzapur District finally celebrated the arrival of a water supply. However, their joy was short-lived, as the local government transferred the IAS officer responsible for this significant achievement. This is the story of the people of the Lahuria Dah Village and IAS Officer Divya Mittal.
Lahuria Dah Village and Its Problem
Lahuria Dah is a small village located in the semi-arid region of Mirzapur district. The town, which has a population of about 1,500 people, is located in one of the most undeveloped areas in eastern Uttar Pradesh and is primarily populated by Dalit people.
Villages have long struggled with water scarcity, with residents dependent on tankers that give only a limited amount of water, a distant reservoir, and a damaged well. The financial pressure of providing water via tankers had left the Devhat Gram Sabha deeply in debt. The village head wrote to several MPs, MLAs, and Ministers, but only fake promises were made, and no action was taken. That was until, in 2017, Divya Mittal, an IAS officer, was assigned to Mirzapur District.
Divya Mittal and Her Efforts for Water
Divya Mittal is highly educated, with an MBA from IIM Bangalore and a B.Tech from IIT Delhi. Mittal was a young and dynamic officer committed to serving the people. She was aware of the water shortage in Lahuria Dah Village, and she prioritized addressing the issue. She is a well-educated professional with an MBA from IIM Bangalore and a B.Tech from IIT Delhi and became a youthful and energetic IAS officer dedicated to public service. Mittal was aware of the water deficit in Lahuria Dah Village and made it her mission to address it.
She went to the village and talked with the inhabitants to learn about their needs. She then worked with the administration to install the new water delivery system as soon as possible. Within a few months, the freshwater delivery system was operational, and the residents of Lahuria Dah Village had access to safe drinking water. The village welcomed the arrival of piped water on August 30, marking a critical turning point in their everyday life. Following that, Mittal organized a “jal pujan” ceremony to commemorate the start of the new water supply. “Days like today make all the struggle worth it… Together, we can make a difference, and Together, we will! Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” wrote Mittal on Twitter.
The Transfer of Divya Mittal and Disappointment
The people’ jubilation, however, was fleeting. Mittal was transferred from Mirzapur District just a few months after the water supply system was inaugurated. The main reason was the disappointment of local government leaders who were not invited to the inauguration. The water supply system was turned off soon after she left. The villagers were completely shattered.
They had finally realized their dream of having access to clean water, only to have it ripped away from them. The villagers begged the local administration to restore the water supply, but their requests were ignored. Lahuria Dah Village’s story is one of victory and disappointment. It’s a story about how one person’s drive can make a difference in the lives of many, and it’s also about how government bureaucracy’s apathy can shatter regular people’s hopes and dreams.
