SHILLONG, Feb 17: Change is the buzzword as Mawlai girds up its loins for the February 27 elections.
The locals are looking to vote for a change with the expectations that the new MLA will take steps to address the various problems and issues afflicting the constituency. A multi-cornered contest is expected. All the seven candidates are busy holding meetings to warm up to the voters.
The seven are former MLA Process T Sawkmie (UDP), MDC Teiborlang Pathaw (NPP), Wandonbok Jyrwa (BJP), Brightstarwell Marbaniang (VPP), Stepbourne Kupar Ryndem (TMC), Marbud Dkhar (Congress) and Tarcisious Mawlot (Independent).
Justice for former HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, relocation of CRPF camp from Mawlai and shifting of the Marten dumping ground are among the election issues. A section of the electorates is not very happy with the decision of some candidates to change their political colours ahead of the polls.
Sawkmie, who had won as a Congress candidate, switched to the UDP. Pathaw was an associate member of the UDP before joining the NPP. Dkhar had resigned from the Congress before re-joining it.
The Shillong Times interacted with some voters. They said it will be interesting to see if Pathaw’s decision helps him or it backfires. He has, however, gained after some leaders, including former UDP MLA Embhahlang Syiemlieh, KHNAM candidate in 2018 polls Ban L Nongbri and Sarita Lyngdoh, who is the widow of former MLA Founder Stone Cajee, joined the NPP. They claimed the VPP candidate is slowly gaining support in many parts of the constituency.
The BJP’s late announcement of the name of the candidate has not helped him. The voters did not speak much about the TMC and the independent candidates. A majority of them want a legislator who will initiate policies and programmes for the benefit of the residents and the constituency as a whole.
Meanwhile, various localities of Mawlai still face the problems of scarcity of potable water, unemployment and drug addiction. Then, the healthcare centres lack necessary infrastructures.
People living in low-lying villages such as Mawsiatkham, Nongkohlew, Madan Mawkhar, Umpling, Umjathang Umphrew and Umrynjah depend on agriculture for their livelihood. These villages are not lacking in terms of infrastructure like footpaths, motorable roads and footbridges, thanks to MGNREGA.
The farmers want the local MLA to provide them with sustainable livelihood through various schemes and programmes of the government including livestock mission.
P Lyngdoh, an auto-rickshaw driver, told The Shillong Times he would like to vote for a new face.
“If we elect the same person, then nothing is going to change. It is important to elect a new face who will come up with some new ideas to solve the problems of the constituency,” Lyngdoh said.
He said he would like to witness a new dispensation as the incumbent government has failed to live up to the expectations of people. He cited the various alleged scams under the MDA.
T Sangriang, an elderly woman who sells betel nuts by the roadside, said she hopes the MLA, to be elected, will serve the people to the best of his ability.
“I would like the MLA to come up with programmes which will provide financial support to an elderly person like me. I have to work at this age to support my family,” she said.
“Till now, I have not received any financial assistance from the government,” she said, expressing ignorance about the old-age pension scheme of the government. She refused to rate the performance of the incumbent MLA.
Macdonald Kurbah, a student of Shillong College, said they will elect an MLA who will try to address the problem of unemployment.
“We would want a government that will provide us jobs. We want our future to be secured,” Kurbah said.
Dapbor Thabah, another youth, dropped out after passing his SSLC examination last year as he is required to support his family. He now works as a daily wager. He said he heard about a skills training programme of the government but he has no idea how to avail the benefit.
Phyrnai Shabong, a butcher, said the government has let down the people. He criticised it for not addressing the problem of short supply of cattle to the state after the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 came into force.
Seng Kynthei Mawlai Pyllun president Lucetta Syiem urged the government to come up with a sustainable livelihood programme for women as many of them are single mothers, eking out a living by slogging as a daily wage earner or domestic help.
“We witnessed how women suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is impossible for us to reach out to each one of them as we do not have financial resources,” Syiem said.
She said the government can think of creating jobs for the women by providing vocational training.
Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun general secretary, Samran Syiem called for the setting up of a rehabilitation centre for the drug addicts in Mawlai.
“We want the government to help our youth. We want our leaders to take serious note of this problem of the youth since they need a proper rehab,” Syiem said.
He also spoke on the need to create and develop sports infrastructures, especially football grounds for the youth of the constituency.
“We are aware Mawlai is considered as the Brazil of Meghalaya since the players from the area are playing for various football clubs in the city,” he said.