Will their plight matter in elections?

Expressbuzz, 17th March, 2009

People of Balangir saw the last five years of democracy. They saw how labourers migrated in hordes to other states and returned every time with bleeding hearts. They saw how cotton farmers committed suicide after failing to repay debt. They witnessed heart-rending stories of women selling their children. They realized even the medicines they were taking to cure diseases were fake. Every time they looked up to their representatives, whom they had elected, for succour but it eluded them.
What’s more? A national magazine last year dubbed Balangir as the poorest district in the country. The CAG report revealed that Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) are the poorest districts in India, where 87 percent people translating into nearly 12 lakh families are living below poverty line.
Yet another election is round the corner. The trials and tribulations that the people went through are still fresh in their mind. But will the issues matter in this year’s election? Will they figure on the poll agenda of political parties? These posers are haunting the aggrieved as the poll draws nearer.
For Biranchi Nag, father of cotton farmer Gangaram of Katapali who committed suicide, the election is yet another ritual. He said he still remembers how officials rushed to his village to take stock after his son died. “Earlier officials used to come to village. Now politicians are coming to beg votes,” said Biranchi. Similarly for Khageswar Majhi, the migrant labourer of Khatipada village who could reunite with his family after one and half years as they went missing in Chennai, this year’s vote means nothing. Khageswar was fed up drawing the attention of local representatives and officials to rescue his family. “Nobody heeded me, not even our local representatives. I had run from pillar to post to get back my family. I don’t want to vote for anybody this time,” said Khageswar.
They are a disillusioned lot. There are many like them who have lost faith in elected representatives. Will their voice be heard this time?