Jitan Soy is breaking hard granite rock in his own field and looks to earn Rs 2 for every sized boulder he would count in the evening. Suffering with acute symptoms of silicosis and TB, the 35-year-old tribal may have left about a decade more under his sleeves. Though, his impact on the rock is getting harder as if he would crush his haplessness i.e. system with the hammer.
“I went in the morning to the booth and voted. But what is the benefit of itIJ The polling hampered some of my work,” says Jitan and adds, when asked what are his expectations from the new Government, “Itana party log hain ki Jharkhand ka naas kar diya. Koi ho, majboot ho.”
Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his campaign, has called upon the people to choose a strong government for full development of the State.
The barely literate and Anmol Dhan, Mahendra Khalkho of Hutar village like him count problems in Khunti, some 45 km from the State capital, on their fingers. “There is no facility for any professional education here, no job opportunity, no irrigation facility, no hospital nothing after so many years of azadi (means Jharkhand attaining statehood in 2000). We have become labourers in our own fields and our children are also falling in the same trap. What we want one party Government so that it can be held responsible solely,” said Anmol Dhan negating the relevance of local MlA in comparison of a larger policy issue.
Overall feeling about the sitting BJP legislators Neelkant Singh Munda is not well in the area though large chunk of voters looks at the “similar kind of governments both at the Centre and the State” for making things smooth. “He never takes interest in our issues and problems. Had he not been the BJP candidate he would not have got his own family members’ votes,” said Prakash Nayak of Gutjora.
But for the women of Ghaghra village drinking water facility is the biggest concern. “We have two hand pumps but both have been failed. We have to fetch water from a far away well all the time. My husband suggested me whom to vote after their meeting. He was saying ek majboot sarkar chahiye,” said Khushbu Devi, 22, who is glad that she and many others of the village have got Indira Awas.
The vast stretch of forest land is patched with fertile farmlands and known as storehouse of green vegetable. At the same time the Khunti-Karra-Ghaghra-Siladon belt has also become ground for bloody turf war between all and sundry outlawed and security forces. All because the fuel for fire is readily available.
“I wanted to do something in my life but I had to drop after matriculation as my parents were not able to manage Rs 15000 for my admission in ITI. I do farming on our less than two acres of land and left with no choice but to migrate if there is a drought. I have not seen any government institute coming in Khunti. WhyIJ May be this time the situation would change,” said Prakash Nayak, 21, of Siladon standing in front of a wall pained with endorsement of ‘Bodhisatva Budhha ITI’, net-picking lakhs of others in the area with affordability.
Retired teacher Kedar Prasad of Kuda village is pained that the governments over the years have not been able to solve any issue be it domicile, filling up vacancies, recruitment of TET passed and taking power lines to his village. “Two years ago some meters were installed in our houses but no electricity line has come yet. Regional parties have made the cause of the Jharkhand suffer. This tie up (instability and corruption) has to be stopped,” he said.
Neighbouring Mandar is not any different. Navatoli, the native village of former Minister and now Independent candidate Deo Kumar Dhan, is counting his “good works” but few kilometers away things are sore.
“For last 10 years no work has taken place accept distribution of dhot-sari. That is why call for a stable Government is attracting voters. Cadre votes would go there but big swing is felt in the favour of a strong Government run by national party and not regional and Independents,” said Aloysius Kujur of Kurgi, which is based on the Ranchi-Gumla highway where the lone hand pump of the middle school pours out only reddish drinking water for the children.