Pokhran (Rajasthan): May 11, 1998 has been etched in golden letters in the annals of Indian history, as it was on this day that India made its entry into the nuclear club, by conducting the first of five nuclear tests at Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan.
On the 22nd anniversary of the successful nuclear test, ETV Bharat reached Khetolai, the village nearest to the nuclear test site and interacted with the people and took stock of the situation here.
'Country made progress, we suffered'
The quaint little village was suddenly brought into the limelight post the tests, with military officers, political leaders, scientists, administrative officials, and the media swarming in.
However, 22 years later, the villagers rue the government's apathy towards them.
According to the villagers, post the testing the population here has been at the receiving end of the radiation. The villagers say they are still affected with skin diseases and cancer. Many women suffer miscarriages, while animals have been afflicted with ailments too.
"The country definitely made progress after the nuclear tests, but we have only suffered," a villager said.
Read: National Technology Day: PM hails those at research forefront to defeat COVID-19
The villagers feel the government should get the air and water examined in the area every six months to assess the levels of radioactive elements. They feel the government should also conduct proper medical tests to identify the actual reason why many here were dying of such diseases.
Further, the villagers said that they have made repeated demands that the Prime Minister adopt this village, but all their pleas have fallen on deaf years.
'Got to know about the tests on TV'
Villagers said that the nuclear test program was kept under wraps, and none of them had any idea about it. Shortly after the test, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee anounced about the successful nuclear tests. It was only then that the people of Khetolai got to know about it, and the village instantly became the center of all attention.
No celebrations due to coronavirus
Despite the troubles, the villagers said that the nuclear tests were a matter of pride for them, as it was on this day that the village found itself in the headlines across the world. However, the anniversary this year will be a dull affair due to the coronavirus lockdown, but the villagers intend to maintain all norms, even if it means celebrating the day from the confines of their own home.
Read: Scientists and technologists are on frontline of global battle against COVID-19, says Kovind
