The campaigning for Punchayati elections in Uttarakhand have commenced and these elections at the decentralised level are mainly responsible for the direct connection of these elected representatives with the common masses living at the grass roots who are the genuine voters and actual strength of strong and viable democracy.
But it has been experienced that the elected representatives at the decentralised levels whether Pradhans, district Panchayat members , district Panchayat adhyaksh or those heading the local municipal bodies including block pramukhs hardly look after the interest of the grass roots development or seem concerned about the latest burning issues like increasing maneater attacks and brutal killings of the village people, women, men and children.
They neither establish connect with the local MLAs nor MPs and seem busy in minting money through commission in every developmental work at the decentralised levels rather than serving the masses as the most effective elected representatives at the grass roots.
Instead, during elections these representatives become the conduits of the contesting candidates of their respective political parties to receive money on behalf of the electorates to grease their palms to elicit votes but keep the major share in their pockets and misguide the electorates.
During the past few years and months there have been unaccounted numbers of human kills by the maneaters in villages and accidental casualties as well, but we’ve never heard of the village pradhans, block pramukhs or Punchayati members etc raising their voice or staging any dharna or protest demonstration.
There have been umpteen instances of pregnant women delivering babies on the way while being carried on palanquin-like make shift temporary structures in view of absence of health centres , ambulance and roads.
There have been no efforts by these local representatives to take delegations of village men and women to their MLAs or MPs or authorities concerned to demand roads or fulfilment of local grievances including fighting increasing criminalism and for women safety.
However, this time a voice has been raised in Chaundkot block, Chowbattakhal constituency , Pauri Garhwal where the electorates have appealed to their fellow voters not to vote to BJP candidates in the Punchayati elections as they have done nothing to ensure that people are safe in Chowbattakhal after several maneater kills in this political constituency represented by the Uttarakhand PWD MINISTER SATPAL MAHARAJ DESPITE the saffron party ruling in the state incessantly for the second term and earlier too on several occasions since year 2000.
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