CHITWAN, Feb 26: With seven days left before the polls, election fervour is palpable across the country. However, no such excitement has been seen in a settlement here so far.
The Majhi and Musahar settlement in Ratnanagar Municipality-8 remains detached from the election enthusiasm. The chairperson of the settlement, Basmati Majhi, said that as the election approaches, no candidate has paid attention to their community, which comprises 29 Majhi and Musahar households.
“Until now, no candidate has come to meet voters here. In previous elections, candidates or representatives from every political party used to visit and ask for votes. But this time, no one has come. The local residents here do not even know which parties have fielded candidates,” she said.
Biting cold afflicts Musahar people
Even as voting day draws near, she complained that no voter education volunteers have reached the settlement. The community, which makes a living through daily wage labour, lacks access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities.
Mahesh Majhi, who has registered as a voter for the first time, is not enthusiastic about the election and is reluctant to talk about it. He said he has no interest in voting. “I have no desire to vote. Why bother with elections?” he added.
Although he has completed Grade XII, he has been unable to find employment and now earns a living by driving a rented auto-rickshaw. He said he has little interest in voting as there is no guarantee of employment, education or healthcare.
Anjali Majhi, who has been learning vocational skills at home after completing Class 12, also complained that political party candidates have overlooked their settlement.
“The voters here do not even know how to cast their ballots,” she said, pointing to the lack of adequate voter education in the marginalised settlement.
RSS
