Grappling with the issues like hefty electricity bills, unemployment, narcotic addiction, corruption, water-power crisis and many more for about a decade, the recently started election process to elect members for J&K Legislative Assembly (LA) after 10 long years has now sown new hopes among the people of Jammu and Kashmir who believe that the issues they were confronting in the absence of an elected Government will now be resolved properly.
However, many people from almost entire of the Jammu division have asserted that over the years they have witnessed the working of almost every political party and politician which has empowered the masses here with experience to take a justified decision while casting the vote so that their vote must ensure victory to some upright candidate which may pave the way for public issues and problems to reach some proper solution
“My area is facing multiple problems like unemployment, narcotic addiction, poor roads besides the problems of water and electricity as at many places in our locality, neither the electric poles are erected nor the water supply pipes are laid,” said Captain Maroof, 60, a retired army-man from Mendhar area of the border district of Poonch.
He further said that during the last 10 years there was no elected Government before whose representative they might take the issues but now as the elections are going to be held soon, they are hopeful that their issues will soon see some solution.
“We will vote for a candidate who will devote time to listen our issues and get them resolved,” Maroof maintained.
Urja Singh, 43, an artist from Jammu informed that absence of elected Government in J&K left the artist community to face immence problems during the last 10 years.
“As there was no Ministry in J&K in the last decade, there was almost no work for the artists and the fraternity suffered heavy financial crisis during this period,” she said adding that there was neither any MLA nor any minister beofre whom they might have presented their issues.
Urja also said that after LA elections they will have their elected MLAs whom they may ask for solution to the issues and the daily protests on Jammu roads may end.
Sanjay Sharma, 53, a shopkeeper from Julaka Mohalla area of old Jammu city said that his locality counters lane and drain problems daily and the sewerage in the area mostly remains chocked.
“Motor at the water supplying station in our area mostly gets damaged triggering water crisis while the hefty power bills are being delivered after the installation of smart meters despite which we mostly suffer due to long power cuts,” he further said.
Talking about damaged and non-functional street lights in his area he expressed pessimism and said that the issues will remain as these are because on being elected, even the brilliant of the candidates shall be unable to do anything as all the powers in J&K have been snatched and given to the Lieutenant Governor.
Similar views were echoed by Mahadev Singh, 63, a retired Government employee from Sandhar area near Basholi town in Kathua district who said that a hospital in his hamlet has no doctor and strength of other staff there is also very less.
He further said that the road leading to Sandhar hamlet is in very bad condition and there is none before whom they may take all these issues.
“About 90 per cent of youths in my hamlet are unemployed while the authorities have opened many new liquor shops,” Singh maintained adding that the issues multiplied in the absence of an elected Government but as now the elections for LA are being held, they are determined to vote to the candidate who will talk of employment for their childen and will address the issue of hefty power bills and other problems which they are facing on daily basis.
Surinder Kumar, 36, an entrepreneur from Ward number 21 of Udhampur town informed that prominent problem in his area is that of water and electricity while the condition of road from Salan Tallab to Battal Balian is deplorable.
“While there was none in the last 10 years to listen our problems, now as the LA elections are being held, we are hopeful that after getting an MLA elected we will enjoy a right to bring our issue before him so that some solution for our problems is reached,” he said adding that they will vote for a candidate who has determination to work for public welfare.
Ram Singh, 64, a retired employee from Anuradhapuram area in Jammu informed that his area has poor and dilapidated road and street lights there are mostly damaged.
“We are getting hefty electricity bills but still power scenario is deplorable in our locality,” he said adding that they will vote for a candidate who will work for public welfare.
