Villagers in Bikaner district plan to boycott LS polls

JAIPUR: Villagers in

Bikaner district

have announced to boycott the upcoming

Lok Sabha

polls citing lack of development in their village Rambagh. According to the locals, there has been no development in the village in terms of education, health, roads and other

infrastructure

. There are over 1,00 voters in Rambagh.


Ranjit Singh Rathore, one of the villagers who is spearheading the boycott told TOI, “This is not a sudden decision. For the last five years the entire village has been suffering because there has been absolutely no development here. We have written to the district administration, CMO and even PMO but it has been a futile effort.”

One of the main reasons for the boycott is the not declaring the village as being drought-hit despite the situation being so, claimed the villagers. “Since last two years drought-like conditions have been prevalent here but no one wants to declare it. We all are suffering because of this as 80% of the crops in the fields here have been destroyed. Why should we vote for anyone when they haven’t done anything for our welfare?” questioned Rathore.

Amongst other issues plaguing the village is the dismal condition of healthcare and school in Rambagh. One of the villagers added, “For last six months the health centre has remained shut. There is no staff and for any medical treatment we have to travel to Mahajan which is approximately nine kilometres away. There is one government school here which has just nine rooms, but classes are till XI standard. From next academic session class XII will also start but how will the students be accommodated when there is insufficient space. Moreover, qualified staff is also not there.”

No headway in construction of roads from the village to nearby areas is also a concern for the villagers who informed the district administration about their decision on Monday.