By Rajalakshmi Dastidar
“How can we forget our ground issues for the collective cause of ‘nationalism’ when we go out to vote?”, asks Ritu Jaiswal.
Before becoming the Mukhiya of Gram Panchayat Raj Singhwahini in 2016, Ritu lived in Delhi and did not know what life was like in the villages; a part of India usually left unexplored. So she went to back to her small village in Bihar, and has never looked back since then; the dismal state of her small village forced her to stay put. As the Mukhiya back home, she proudly acclaims, “I decided to stay and work for this village. I decided to fight the Gram Panchayat Elections.”
“I Only Urged People To Vote For Issues Related To Basic Necessities”
Enlightening the audience about the nuances of elections, Jaiswal states power, caste and money as the biggest factor for electing a leader. As opposed to the humongous 40 lakhs that her opponents spent, her meagre 18,000 paved way for the village’s path to ‘vikas’ (development). “I only urged people to vote for issues related to basic necessities instead of looking at caste or a political party this time.”
In 2016, she was conferred with the Ucch Shikshit Adarsh Yuva Sarpanch Puraskaar for her commendable work. Throwing light on the current situation of the nation, she remarks, “Our country has been divided into two parts today – polarising Hindu and Muslim votes.” Praising the students out on the roads, currently protesting to prevent the divisive stance that defines the boundaries of our nation, she sighs and says, “How can we forget our ground issues for nationalism?”
In a country with lack of education, basic health care services, immense poverty, hunger, amongst several other plaguing societal issues, it is a mockery of democracy to put religion on a pedestal superior to basic human rights. Distinguishing a leader from a celebrity, she encourages the audience to acknowledge the existence and work done by those at the grass-root levels, from sweepers to drivers to cooks. Jaiswal says, “they are the real heroes.”
As a conclusive statement, she encourages the youth to take part in politics, “Everyone wants to join politics and become an MP.” The growing disinterest at the grass-root level bothers her; she asks the youth to aspire to resolve issues at the lowest unit. From Panchayats to Parliaments, real change begins from the very basic unit of democracy.
“2G, 3G BOFORS, are not the ground issues; it is the old man walking barefoot for 15 kms for basic necessities,” she says.
If we have elected someone to run the country, we expect them to give back. It is disappointing to see that villages are still poverty-stricken, hungry and sick. Instead of solving these issues, our politicians put more emphasis on, “nationalism and supremacy of religion.”
While voting, we must keep in mind that a leader should have qualities that help the country to solve such issues and ensure the public they will be resolved. Having a right and a law is not enough. We need to fight against this and make a change. We have a voice, and hence, we should raise it.