Baripada: People in two villages under Badasahi block in Mayurbhanj district were miffed with people’s representatives and elections, as their long standing basic issues have remained unresolved. They have decided to boycott the three-tier panchayat polls slated February 17.
According to reports, there are no proper roads and bridges to Agaria and Dumuria in Managobindapur panchayat. The villagers’ repeated protests to press for a concrete bridge have yielded no results.
The villagers congregated on the outskirts of their village Tuesday and decided to boycott the elections. They also resolved not to allow entry of candidates to their village.
“When elections come, leaders rush in and talk big with a lot of promises, but once polls are over, they are nowhere seen while the dreams for our development go down the drain. Our miseries never subside,” they lamented.
The panchayat has 16 wards with 4,611 voters. But villagers feel that in terms of development the two villages in the constituency were meted out step-motherly treatment by political leaders and the administration. The villagers were unanimous and adamant on their stand – no bridge, no votes.
Narottam Jena and Sunaram Hansda of Agaria said the only means of communication to their village is a creaky bamboo bridge while access of ambulances and other vehicles to the village is a difficult proposition.
Crossing the geriatric bridge for children and the elderly is tough job, they rued.
To venture out of the village, people have to take a long detour. The bamboo bridge has collapsed several times in the past and people have even lost their lives, the villagers said.
“Notwithstanding our repeated demands, nobody listens to our daily plight,” they added.
ADM Deben Kumar Pradhan said, “Now, election code of conduct is in force.
It is not possible to carry out any development work there. I will try to convince the locals not to shun voting, as it is their fundamental right. Steps can only be taken after elections are over.” PNN
