Bijepur: Bijepur Assembly constituency is going to witness another election in last one-and-half years. The first by-election was held in February 2018 following the death of former MLA Subala Sahu.
The MLA seat went to the polls during the general election in April 2019 and it is going for by-poll October 21 as elected MLA and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik resigned from the seat.
Orissa POST correspondent Biswa Bhusan Mohapatra talked to voters from various areas of the constituency to know about their local issues and problems. The correspondent found out that there are plenty of problems related to health, education, irrigation, employment and drinking water.
“Elections are being held repeatedly and tall leaders are making a beeline in our area and they tend to make big promises. But, I did not see any change in the last two years. We hope that the new MLA will listen to us and resolve our issues,” said Ballabha Pradhan.
“Many farmers of my village have got KALIA money. But, I am yet to get it. Also, youths in our area are not getting employment. As a result, they may get waylaid in life. We need social security for our children,” said Krushan Bihag, a farmer.
“I am a weaver and depend on weaving for my livelihood. I am yet to receive any kind of assistance from the government. I neither know about the schemes that are there for us, nor anyone from the government approaches us. Many members of the weaver community reside in Bijepur area and if specific assistance is given to us, our lives will improve,” said Balaram Meher, a weaver by profession.
“Almost all families in our area depend on agriculture for their livelihood. But, we face a lot of difficulties. There is no proper irrigation facility. We depend on rainwater for harvesting of crops while few have managed to dig up deep borewell on their own. The situation is worse during Rabi crop season. Though irrigation projects were announced, nothing has been done so far,” said a young farmer from Bijepur block, Karuna Pradhan.
“We have a hospital in Bijepur block. But, the hospital doesn’t have adequate doctors. As a result, we face a lot of problems. Many schools in our area also don’t have required number of teachers. These problems are there in all parts of Bijepur,” said a senior citizen, Hansabar Rout.
“I have a ration card and I get ration regularly. However, I am yet to get old age pension and a pucca house. Not just me, many BPL families in our Bandhapali village live in kutcha houses. We face a lot of problems in the rainy season. If the government provides us with pucca houses and constructs a road to our village, we will be grateful,” said Mamastri Bisi.
Rita Sahu faces public anger
Bijepur: BJD candidate Rita Sahu faced public ire during campaigning trail in Khemesara panchayat in Barpali block of Bijepur assembly segment. Khemesara is the birth place of Rita’s late husband, Subala Sahu. At the public meeting where Sahu was campaigning, a woman from the village, Pravasini, openly complained about the condition of Khenesara UGME School. “The condition of the school is in deplorable condition. Our children are studying there. Who will ensure safety of our children?” Pravasini said.
“Though former Minister Snehangini Churia had promised us to construct a new building for the school during 2018 by-election, nothing has been done till now,” she alleged.
Reacting to the complaint, Sahu said, “As per my knowledge, money has been approved for the school building work. But, it has not been released due to the imposition of model code of conduct in our area.”
