By Gervasius Nongkseh
The election temperature is at its highest peak. Agenda have been outlined, manifestos have been released and the momentum is built. Mud-throwing is a common phenomena and promises galore have been made. Gifts of cash and kind have been secretly distributed to lure voters. How we wish that it continues throughout the five years. Endless rallies, public meetings have been organised, sometimes causing public inconvenience. Door to door campaigns by candidates sometimes even disrupt family time. Party workers are spending sleepless nights to capture the last soul. While anti-incumbency might affect the ruling party, others suffer from anti-minority wave. This election seems to be the acme of all in recent times. Surreptitiously!
Listening to different candidates across the state at times we tend to imagine that a saviour has at last arrived. Though the same list of the last election is being used to read the promises such as development in roads, health care, electricity, water supply, education, farmers’ welfare etc., but at least it is delivered in a new logic. All these are ideal development projects for constituencies especially in West Khasi Hills.
But will the sun shine in our state? Will the sun shine especially in West Khasi Hills? We learn from history that political promises have always remained empty promises. There is only smoke without fire. As February 27 draws near digression and deflection from important issues once again overpowers the scene. How it will turn up till the date will be known only on the March 3rd.
All the rhetoric will happen in a democracy. But the reason is loud and clear that all candidates want to draw our vision away from our goals. The concern is that in all the chaos and pandemonium the aam admi is taken for a ride. Often times the hoi polloi are blinded by promises and numbers. This is a wake- up call to all not to lose sight of the real issue, that is, development. Just as we know the importance of voting, equally important it is to know whom to vote for and who can deliver.
As voters from West Khasi Hills, this most god-forsaken area, we fear that another five years might just be wasted away in ineffective sameness. Besides many others, one of the most important issues mentioned by all the candidates in WKH is road connectivity. This is very important and integral to our lives. But strange enough none mentioned about repairing the existing roads. It saddens me to see the pathetic conditions of the roads. Some strategically important roads need mention here: (i) the Nongstoin-Maweit road, (ii) the Nongstoin- Kynroh road. These dilapidated roads are equal to buffaloes’ path-ways in the deep forests. One party has ruled Nongstoin for more than four decades and the other for one term and yet just to repair these roads is not a priority. How can we believe in more road connectivity when even the existing ones are in pathetic condition? Why is this promise now when for all these years you just sit with fingers crossed?
The Nongstoin-Maweit road is at its worst. It’s a road one fears to tread on. If you don’t believe go and have a personal recce of the road from Nongstoin to Maweit. I challenge you that you will come back with a curse on your lips if you still have the strength to do that at all. Sick people have died on the way, pregnant women have suffered immeasurably. The dichotomy is that thousands of coal-laden trucks everyday ply on that road. This is a clear day light robbing and systematic looting of our resources without ploughing back anything in return. And now just before elections, the candidates play the development card. Why couldn’t they repair these roads first even before uttering a word? After all actions speak louder than words!
In 2016 the KHADC had showed some concern by giving an NOC to the Nongstoin – Domiasiat and Mawthabah-Ranikor roads but this project was aborted due to the noises made by anti-development groups. After that the KHADC allocated Rs 20 crores for the repairing of the roads but we have not seen the light of day. As of now it appears that WKH has reached a point of no return with regard to future development of any sort.
If we don’t shed tears this time we will never do it. Enough is enough. We are tired of this same drama. The appeal to all voters is to use their power judiciously this time lest they will have to shed crocodile tears for another five years. This time they can use more of their reason than emotions. Small petty gifts should not blind us. After voting too we should not forget to follow up with our respective MLAs and the Government.
However, among these dark clouds see some light as we are a democracy and the power rests on people. History has proven that the voters cannot be taken for granted for too long. Therefore we cannot blame our politicians completely for the ineffectiveness. The ultimate blame lies with us the people, If we elect leaders who cannot deliver we cannot expect change. We are the change we want to see. This time let us prove that we cannot be taken for granted. We have the power to write a new chapter and create history. How we wish that the sun should shine soon!