By Saurav BoraBy Saurav Bora
A multi-ethnic constit uency, Pynthorum khrah has lived with issues such as urban poverty and water shortage too long for comfort. Be it the poor living conditions in the slum areas of Pynthorbah, roads in Mawpat or water supply to both the localities, things, as people claim here, have not quite moved in the right direction.Residents queuing up with empty buckets and plastic cans from morning till night for water from a single connection, particularly in Pynthorbah, is a common sight. It’s almost an ordeal they go through every day to meet their water needs.“We need at least 10 buckets and have to start queuing from as early as 5am for the water which we use for drinking and washing. Our children take turns as there is a single public connection and so many takers. Our compound alone has 16 households and there are three such compounds in the vicinity,” said Sharmila Devi, a resident of Pynthorbah Block I.Worse still, the pipes go dry at times.“At times, there is no water supply here (public connection) for even a week. I have been standing here for at least an hour now for my turn,” Devanand Rai, a 16-year-old, said, as another stood near him with a trolley full of empty plastic cans.Prithwis Hore, who owns a grocery store not too far away from the “scramble-for-water” point, substantiates, saying, “Only a few houses in Pynthorbah have water connections at home. The crisis worsens between January and April. Some have to even buy water.”A few metres away is a drain, some prefer to call it a “stream”, where women, young and old, are seen washing clothes.“Such is the plight of people who choose to even wash clothes in drain water so that the limited quantity they collect from public connections can be used for drinking only,” said a resident.Four-time MLA and BJP candidate, Alexander Laloo Hek however said that work was under way to build a reservoir at Mawpat. “Negotiations over land took some time but once it is complete, water will be released to all residents of Mawpat. But 90 per cent of the houses in Nongmensong have water connections.”Poor living conditions A section of residents of the constituency live in shanties, which are mostly unhygienic, while another set of people stay in wooden huts that do not have water connections. “We have to pay as much as Rs 3,000 as rent for the three small rooms. Our economic condition is poor and the promises of homes by leaders have not been kept. My husband works in a hair-cutting saloon in Bara Bazar and I have three children to feed. At times, I try to earn some money by stitching clothes,” Sharmila said, sharing her problems with this correspondent outside her wooden hut.Across the locality are a cluster of tin-roofed shanties where living conditions are even worse. “You can see stagnant water and drainage is an issue.
On top of that, the clustered habitation can be a recipe for disasters like a fire,” said a citizen.Asked about the plight of these families, mostly non-tribals, Hek, a former Congress leader who will be contesting from BJP this time, claimed that about 400 houses have been given to BPL families in the constituency. “Our party will provide lakhs of houses to poor and Pynthorumkhrah will get a good share,” he said.Bylanes a concernWhile the state of most of the main roads though not broad enough for two-way traffic, are by and large good, the internal roads are a concern for commuters.Independent candidate, Aneeta Synrem says that in parts of Nongmensong itself, there are bylanes and internal roads which are unattended and yet to be repaired. “Commuting through these internal roads is difficult, particularly for sick and old people,” she said. B. Khonglah, the headman of Nongmensong, said that the elected representative should make use of his schemes to develop the locality.“Roads have to be improved. Water needs to be made available to residents while houses have to be provided to the poor. Our youths need playgrounds and auditoriums as well,” he added.Basic infrastructureNCP candidate, Predecessor Rumnong, says the semi-urban constituency is the least developed. “Otherwise it would have been a model constituency. As of now, there is no government school or college. “Not just that, there is no public health centre in Pynthorbah locality.
There is no playground for players at the grassroots to hone their skills. The stadium at Polo is reserved for special events,” Rumnong, who is also the secretary of the Pynthorbah dorbar shnong, said.“Not just that, a community hall for which funds were sanctioned during the tenure of James Marvan Pariat, is yet to be completed even after 20 years,” he said.Carlos Thabah, a Class XII student of Seng Khasi College, Jaiaw, says he expects the elected representative to build a stadium in Pynthorumkhrah. “I love playing football but here in my locality, we do not have a proper ground,” Carlos, a Manchester United fan, said, as he helped his relative build a small ring well on his Pynthorbah Block I premises.
Job avenuesAlmost 70 per cent of the youths of the constituency, according to locals, have either dropped out of school or college to take up driving, be it taxis, water vans or tourist cabs. Some of them, mostly from economically backward classes, even lose hope of jobs and take the “easy route” to earn a living.D. Bamon, a taxi driver who studied till Class XII, says, “I chose my passion which is driving after losing hope of getting a government job,” Bamon, a resident of Nongmensong said.There are sections who still hope that they get the desired lift from the government to make it happen.Anil Thapa, another resident of the locality, dreams of starting his own business in snacking products, provided there is financial help.“I make all kinds of hot grams, bhujia and corn flakes. But the business is not mine. I hope someday I can start a venture of my own for which I need around Rs 3lakh,” Thapa said, as he showed his “factory”, a space where he prepares and packages the products.Hek eyes fifth termAsked about his chances of winning the seat five times in a row, Hek said: “Election is election and I don’t underestimate anyone. But my vote bank is still intact and there is no doubt that I will win. It will be a resounding victory.”On his agenda, Hek, who is contesting from BJP this time, said, “As a party we are eyeing all-round development, be it making Meghalaya a paradise for tourists or enhancing employability for creating jobs and avenues for youths.”Questioned about the lack of development as alleged by critics during his terms as MLA for the past 20 year, he said, “Development is a continuous process. No one can claim100 per cent development. Here and there, work will always remain, which we are doing.“But people know how much work I have done. I have set up a community and rural development block. A stadium will soon be established at Mawpat for which the dorbar shnong has provided 25 acres of land. Besides, construction of a road from Lumshyiap connecting the C&RD block and stadium is also under way,” Hek said.The challengersWhile Hek, who was with Congress when he last won, is the favourite to retain his seat, he still has to overcome the challenges posed by PDF and to an extent NCP. James Ban Basaiawmoit, the PDF candidate and sitting MDC, is guarded when asked about his chances. “So far so good, as I have the support of both tribal and non-tribal voters.”“Pynthorumkhrah has not seen any progress in the past 20 years.
The road condition is not up to mark, there are no footpaths and streetlights, This time, people want a change…If they elect me, I will fulfill their aspirations, particularly those of the poor. I will make policies for uplifting their economic condition, “Basaiawmoit said.NCP’s Predecessor Rumnong says he would aim for development in all sectors, including education and health. “Creation of jobs for youths will be a priority apart from setting up facilities for sports,” he said.Congress’ Banpynshngainlang Rumnong, who will be contesting for the first time, is pinning hopes mainly on the tribal vote bank. “There are about 18,000 tribal voters and I expect at least 50 per cent of the votes to come my way apart from a good chunk of non-tribal votes. But of course, the ticket was allotted only a few days back for which I have had less time to prepare,” he said.There are two women candidates in the fray.
Apart from Aneeta Synrem who is making her electoral debut, there is Probety Nongpluh of NPP in the race.“My winnability is high. People want a representative, who is qualified, can debate on issues in the Assembly, has a clean image, is accessible, friendly and mingles with people,” Synrem, a lawyer by profession, said, while obliquely referring to her strengths. “My agenda will be to develop all those areas that are still underdeveloped,” she said.NPP candidate, Nongpluh, who was not available at her Nongmensong residence for comment, was earlier with BJP. NPP state president, W. R Kharlukhi had said that she aspired to join the party and address certain issues plaguing the constituency.