Tura (Meghalaya), Feb
3: There is hardly any escape from reality as dilapidated stretch greets
visitors to rural Garo Hills. While Guwahati-Tura highway is well maintained,
roads are poorly kept in many areas of the rural pockets.
In the run up to the elections to Meghalaya assembly, people do have complaints against the political class and the administration. As one talks to the voters at clusters between Tura and Songsak or along the Assam border, one thing is clear the governance or the absence of it has left a trail of evidence showing how the polity has neglected development.
In some areas people are talking about Tura-Nongstoin-Shillong Highway which will provide access to rural Garo region people to the state capital Shillong. "But it came too late as Congress felt nervous," maintains a villager near Songsak assembly segment.
In fact, rural Meghalaya offers difficult roads. "Broken patches, potholes and numerous bumps form inherent parts of roads. We need to come out of this stage," says D Sangma of NPP.
According to BJP candidate for South Tura Billykid A Sangma, "The Congress party has been responsible for lack of development. This is the opportunity for the people to get into fast track development as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
Citizens in this region also complain about rampant school dropouts and absence of infrastructures in schools and colleges.
"Lack of adequate government schools is an issue. In many villages education is solely left with Christian missionary schools,' says Umesh Kumar Dhar, a voter in rural Songsak constituency.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of Congress is contesting this seat besides his pocket-borough Ampati.
According to NPP sources, party candidate Nihim Shira is all set to give a determined fight to Mukul Sangma.
Vinita Sangma, another NPP leader, says there is a cycle affect vis-a-vis absence of development as poor education ultimately results in unemployment problem. A number of youths in Tura and adjoining areas speak in similar vein. "Due to the absence of any industry, young people are forced to either run auto rickshaws or work as poorly paid counter assistants in Tir (locally run gambling) counters," laments 24 year old Richard Momin near Mendipathar.
According to locals, other areas of concern that come into focus during elections include abundant water scarcity in many parts of the state. In many areas collection of water from PHE department taps and natural water springs is considered normal.
BJP leader Billykid A Sangma says last decade hardly saw purposeful development works as those who ran the state of affairs indulged in rampant corruption.
"One of the striking problems is lack of avenues and infrastructures for farmers to sell their products. I can assure, once BJP comes to power, we will attend to this issue with priority focus', he says.
Incidentally in many pockets even Congress supporters sound pessimistic.
"Mukul Sangma is good but he could not give my son a job," says one villager Lurminot Kodak but asserts again that as traditional Congress voter he would vote for the grand old party yet again. UNI
In the run up to the elections to Meghalaya assembly, people do have complaints against the political class and the administration. As one talks to the voters at clusters between Tura and Songsak or along the Assam border, one thing is clear the governance or the absence of it has left a trail of evidence showing how the polity has neglected development.
In some areas people are talking about Tura-Nongstoin-Shillong Highway which will provide access to rural Garo region people to the state capital Shillong. "But it came too late as Congress felt nervous," maintains a villager near Songsak assembly segment.
In fact, rural Meghalaya offers difficult roads. "Broken patches, potholes and numerous bumps form inherent parts of roads. We need to come out of this stage," says D Sangma of NPP.
According to BJP candidate for South Tura Billykid A Sangma, "The Congress party has been responsible for lack of development. This is the opportunity for the people to get into fast track development as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi".
Citizens in this region also complain about rampant school dropouts and absence of infrastructures in schools and colleges.
"Lack of adequate government schools is an issue. In many villages education is solely left with Christian missionary schools,' says Umesh Kumar Dhar, a voter in rural Songsak constituency.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of Congress is contesting this seat besides his pocket-borough Ampati.
According to NPP sources, party candidate Nihim Shira is all set to give a determined fight to Mukul Sangma.
Vinita Sangma, another NPP leader, says there is a cycle affect vis-a-vis absence of development as poor education ultimately results in unemployment problem. A number of youths in Tura and adjoining areas speak in similar vein. "Due to the absence of any industry, young people are forced to either run auto rickshaws or work as poorly paid counter assistants in Tir (locally run gambling) counters," laments 24 year old Richard Momin near Mendipathar.
According to locals, other areas of concern that come into focus during elections include abundant water scarcity in many parts of the state. In many areas collection of water from PHE department taps and natural water springs is considered normal.
BJP leader Billykid A Sangma says last decade hardly saw purposeful development works as those who ran the state of affairs indulged in rampant corruption.
"One of the striking problems is lack of avenues and infrastructures for farmers to sell their products. I can assure, once BJP comes to power, we will attend to this issue with priority focus', he says.
Incidentally in many pockets even Congress supporters sound pessimistic.
"Mukul Sangma is good but he could not give my son a job," says one villager Lurminot Kodak but asserts again that as traditional Congress voter he would vote for the grand old party yet again. UNI
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