Sanjeev K Sharma
PURMANDAL (SAMBA), Apr 26: Making claims of utter neglect suffered by the historic shrines of Purmandal and Uttar Behni and their adjoining hamlets in Samba district, people living in the close vicinity of these holy places cast their votes today saying “it was a democratic responsibility” to register their participation in the ongoing countrywide battle of the ballot which witnessed polling during the second phase of General Elections-2024 with voters of Jammu-Samba-Reasi Lok Sabha Constituency overwhelmingly pressing the button of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to elect a proper representative for developments.
At a Polling Station established in Government Higher Secondary School Purmandal, the enthusiast voters including the first timer and other young girls and boys, elders, retired persons, house-wives and others turned up in large number to cast their votes.
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At a concrete made platform outside the Polling Station near a hand-pump were some elders of Purmandal village sitting and discussing politics and developments in their area.
“Issues of our area never reached the ears of contesting candidates as only one or two of the top contenders made their visit but that too till the Bus Stand of Purmandal to meet their party workers there itself and get their version about the local issues,” Nand Kishore Shastri, 58, a teacher by profession from Purmandal area informed.
He also said that such visiting candidates enjoyed tea with local snacks at the Bus Stand Purmandal and then they returned.
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Shastri was supported by Kuldeep Raj, 68, a retired Government employee, also a Purmandal resident and he added: “Had the contesting candidates visited even the Purmandal shrine they would be blessed by the deity at the shrine on one hand and they might have also witnessed themselves the biggest issue being faced by about 100 families living at the bank of the holy Devika as during rainy season these families are left with no way to cross the swollen rivulet and in case of some medical or other emergency, people of these families are left at the mercy of God.”
Many more people of the area were resentful for the politicians making big promises to win elections and forgetting all these afterwards for next five years.
Some more people there talked about poor sanitation near the holy shrine of Shiva in Purmandal.
“There is no bathroom for ladies at the holy Devika and the visiting women pilgrims face embarrassment on certain auspicious days like Amavasya when a bath in the holy waters of the rivulet is considered pious and the one bringing good omen,” they informed adding: “It is so unfortunate that the shrines of Purmandal and Uttar Behni being the most revered, most famed and close to our hearts remained the most neglected places in J&K.”
Rajni Sahni, 42, a bank employee waiting in the queue for her chance to cast vote said that unemployment is the biggest problem in the area and despite numerous Government schemes for self-employment almost none knows what to do and where to approach for the benefits.
Vijay Kumar, 52, a shopkeeper at Bus Stand Purmandal said that there was resentment among the locals of the area regarding the Degree College in the area which was earlier sanctioned for Purmandal but was later established at Mandal—few kilometers away from Purmandal.
“Now the poor students from nearby 57 villages have to travel as far as from 8-14 km daily to reach the college and there is also no proper transport facility in the area,” he maintained.
As per Pallvi, 24, a young graduate and a first-time voter one more degree college in the area was required for higher education at door steps of the youth.
Another fist time voter, Sudhanshu, 18, a B. Tech student said there should be more employment avenues in the area.
Uttar Behni resident Kiran Bala, 20, a student of BA at nearby degree college Mandal said she has to travel 5 km daily to reach her college.
“While there is no proper transport facility in the area to reach the college in time, the college on the other hand lacks facilities of many important subjects like Commerce and Science,” she said.
A senior citizen Subash Chander Sharma, 63, at Uttar Behni said that there is large scale bungling in revenue records of the area due to which development works get hampered.
He said that shrines at Purmandal-Uttar Behni should be developed properly under Government schemes like Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD).
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