SHILLONG, Feb 23: East Shillong is said to be an ‘advanced’ constituency but the woes of its voters are no less than their counterparts in the other 59.
Local resident Deity H. Majaw said she expects better governance, more accountability and transparency from the next government. She listed a few issues that need attention.
“Costlier food items and building materials compared to our neighbour (Assam), corruption, nepotism at all levels, circumvention of the law to benefit a few, lack of vision and true leadership, unutilised government schemes, traffic congestion, inefficient officials…,” she said.
She hoped to see some new faces in the Assembly, who would work for the welfare of the people and kick businessmen out of the political system.
Maven Maian Nongrum also felt a new set of leaders could undo the damage done by the seasoned leaders who flattered only to deceive for years. “I do hope a corruption-free government becomes a reality,” he said, adding that the new MLAs should set a realistic goal of fulfilling at least one out of 10 promises.
He lamented how a power surplus state like Meghalaya has had to depend on imported electricity to the point of near-bankruptcy for the MeECL. He rued the fall in the quality of education and healthcare too.
Long-time voters M. Kharkongor and Meenakshi Dey said unemployment, water scarcity and traffic snarls are the biggest problems in the constituency. “We wish people get jobs within the state to be able to spend more time with their families,” the latter said.
B. Nikhla and Ai N.K. Dympep would like their new representative to decongest the localities under the constituency and address the infrastructural needs. They also sought a government that would invite the right kind of investments to develop the state.
“We keep on airing our problems but the solutions never come,” N. Kaur, a resident of Gora Lane armed with plastic containers, said from a queue for water.
“We need tap water and proper electricity meters installed in our homes. We hope our new representative does not disappear after pre-poll assurances,” she said.
Similar concerns were raised by Ranadheer Das, a resident on the main road of Laitumkhrah, Gary Marbaniang, a youth and Mahesh Prasad and K. Kshiar, both shopkeepers. “We need peace and security to earn our livelihoods,” Prasad said.