After a month-long razzmatazz of political campaigns, about 8.33 crore voters in Maharashtra are set to cast their franchise today. While thousands of first-time voters excitedly await their turn to get the index fingers inked at polling booths near their residences, the process means an arduous journey for several voters in Melghat constituency. Melghat in Amravati is one of the least developed tribal areas of the Vidarbha region.
Over 75 families, 127 voters, living in the tribal Lawada village, located in the middle of a tiger reserve, have been given a polling booth at Bhulori village which is approximately seven kilometers away. The elders, handicapped and pregnant women and mothers with little babies among them are worried a lot.
Gammubaju Kasbekar (67) whose limbs are dysfunctional told dna over phone, "My village is on the hill and most of the families don't have access to vehicles to come down to seven kilometers. I wish to use my franchise, but due to lack of any commuting support, I may have to sit at home cursing my fate."
Shanti Swarkar, 32, mother of a five-month-old baby, said, "How will I carry my baby to the polling booth? Since going and coming back will take at least five hours, I can't leave him at home also."
Residents of Salona, Domniphata and Bandri have similar problems. Their polling booth is at Masondi village, which is about 5 km from their respective hamlets.
A low voter turnout is expected the across tiger reserve area that has nearly 61 villages and 300 hamlets. The population is largely constituted by the Korku tribe and others like Gond and Wanjari, etc. The inhabitants depend on the forest for living and domestic needs.
Villagers accuse politicians for the apathy. Kasbekar says, "The polling booth is not new. We have been requesting our legislators and MPs since past 65 years to look into the matter but to no avail,"says Kasbekar. Incidentally, Sonia Gandhi, chief secretary of the state had visited the area in the past. Amravati is the home town of the ex-president Pratibha Patil.
Bandya, the activist known for raising the issue of malnutrition in Melghat for past many years, accuse the administration and the government for the prolonged ignorance of this underdeveloped area.
"While all parties talk about development in the state, Melghat which is just 80 kilometers from the Amravati city is yet to get its due. We understand that establishing health and other infrastructure requires funds and political will. But why can't a polling booth be set-up closer to these villages even for a day," he asked.
An election commission official said, "The villagers should immediately meet the district collector and apprise him about the issue."
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