Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 4: A large number of voters who had queued up at various polling stations in Block Bishnah in Jammu district on Tuesday morning said they voted for the overall development of their villages at par with urban areas.
Standing in a queue at a busy polling station established at Government Middle School Dindey Khurd, Som Raj of Dabbar said that after last panchayat elections, their village saw major development but the pace of development suddenly stopped due to delay in holding of panchayat elections after the expiry of the panchayat period.
“We have come out to vote to get our lane cemented. All lanes in our village are tiled or cemented except ours due to which we feel inferior when our relatives or friends visit our house. We had made up mind not to cast our vote to any candidate but then one of the candidates, which is very close to our family, promised us to get our lane constructed, so we have come here to vote for him to fulfill our dream,” said Sanjeev Kumar, a barber by profession, while standing in the queue with his wife Neena.
Naresh Kumar, who runs a shop in Village Makhanpur, was walking alone towards polling station Government Middle School (GMS) Makhanpur to cast his vote. He said, “I have closed my shop only to cast my vote to make win the candidate of my choice as he is educated, honest and a responsible person.
“Panchayat polls are imperative for development as Panches and Sarpanches are our village brethren. They know problem of every small mohalla and can take up the issues with the concerned MLA or Government officers. Even in odd hours we can knock their door for help which is not possible with MLAs”, Kamla Devi, a young house wife said after casting her vote at polling station GMS Pasgal.
Another voter who identified himself as Yashpal Sharma said the condition of the road to their village is deplorable with large potholes erupted on it. “I am going to vote with the hope that this road will be macadamized soon after the panchayat elections are over”, he added.
“A good Sarpanch or Panch plays a vital role not only in development of villages but also in establishment of peace. In last over six years, a single person from our panchayat did not got to police station as all minor disputes between villagers were amicably solved by our previous Panch and Sarpanch,” Diksha Kumari, a College going girl returning from polling station Panchayat Ghar Laswara stated, adding, she and all her family members have voted for re-electing our previous Panch and Sarpanch.
Abdul Gani, an 85-year-old man of Krail while sitting under a tree outside polling station Government Primary School, Krail Manhasan, said that in every election, he votes with the hope that somebody will help him to construct a ‘pucca’ house but it remains a dream and he is still living in a ‘kulla’ (thatched house) but I have again come to vote as it is my right.
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