“We seek only the most basic development work for our village”
A group of educated youth from Kanmoipatti Colony, a remote locality in Melavalavu panchayat in Madurai district, chose the ‘none of the above' option in the local body elections on Monday to register their protest against the neglect of their area by successive elected representatives.
Despite State Election Commissioner S. Ayyar's statement in Madurai on October 7 that those who did not wish to vote for any candidate could use Form 71 instead of 49 O, polling personnel at a booth told the youngsters that no such form had been received.
“Write down grievances”
Even while acknowledging the presence of such a form, a booth official told the youth to write down their grievances and their refusal to vote on a “plain paper,” which promised to pass on to the authorities concerned, said K. Sathish, one of the youth.
“We did not expect this at all. This has weakened our faith in the Election Commission.”
Mr. Sathish, who holds a diploma in mechanical engineering and has completed B.A. through a correspondence course said, “We only seek the most basic development work for our village. Despite requests made over 15 years, our demands remain unfulfilled.”
He alleged that some of the public places in the village had been encroached upon by VIPs.
Demands
The villagers' demands include approach roads to houses constructed for them by the government, besides a water tank and roads to the cremation ground.
V. Ashok Kumar, another graduate, said: “We do not want any grand schemes or big works. Even our basic demands have not been met. While I have voted twice in earlier local body elections, this time I decided not to vote for anyone and chose this option.”
Keywords: Tamil Nadu local body polls, Form 49 0
Instead of boycotting these 'educated youths' could themselves have contested the elction as independenat candidate and shown the political party how they can make a difference in positive way.
I commend the educated youth group who registered their dissatisfaction and demand for basic development work in a peaceful and democratic way. It totally eludes one's mind how the local government, district government, elected representatives and state government can turn a blind eye to development of this village and many other such villages. The governing bodies should also understand that issues like this precipitate to frustration, armed struggle etc. Is it too much to ask for basic requirements? How and Why are the governing bodies NOT able to meet these requirements? People at positions lack sincerity and compassion. If this is how our governments conduct themselves, why do we even dream of taking India to a world stage, ask for Security Council representation and other respectable positions in the international arena. NO. Any country that does not care for the well being and basic demands of its people DOES NOT deserve an international standing, let alone recognition.
Shameful !! The Election commission [Sate election commission included] is one of the few institutions India still trusts and incidents such as these may erode this confidence.Exemplary actions should be taken against polling officials who asked the youth to write their complaint on a plane paper. This is nothing short of subverting the integrity of the poll process.
Very severe action must be initiated against Election Commission Officials particularly the guy who told the youth to write the grievances in a piece of paper, they seem to be nothing but political stooges who could have been recalled if we only had right to recall bill.
Great work !!! bravo.... my friends i must say you have spine in you. Really appreciate what you people have done for your village.. Let's educate the people about the form "49-O" ... which these people deny to give us during any election @ voting both. i hope if is this happens in every election the country shall progress rapidly. I hope to see INDIA under the names of " Developed Country" before I die and not Developing Country which we are today !
Hats off to Kanmoipatty Colony's educated youth for standing up for their rights and attempting to use the democratic machinery to express their anguish. IT'S A SHAME on a couple of groups; 1) The political parties who have ruled over the past couple of decades and not worked to provide basic amenities to these villages 2) The election commission especially Mr. Ayyar for not keeping the promise and supporting what he preached regarding 49-O and Form 71.
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