High enthusiasm among voters in Reasi, Udhampur
Govind Sharma
REASI/UDHAMPUR, Dec 13: The enthusiasm was at its peak in voters of Pouni and Pouni A (Reasi district) and Udhampur Main and Jaganoo (Udhampur district) DDC constituencies, which went to polls today in the sixth phase of the District Development Council elections.
Braving the morning chill, residents from villages of Pouni, Ransoo, Talwara and other areas of Pouni and Pouni A DDC constituencies lined up early outside the polling stations to cast their votes for redressal of their long pending issues regarding development of their mohallas as well as various tourism destinations so that local youth may get employment opportunities.
Anil Kumar, a 32-year-old youth while casting his vote at polling station Talwara, said, “Siarh Baba, one of the largest waterfalls is still in dilapidated condition. Talwara is mainly dependent on the tourists who came here to see the mesmerizing waterfall but after 2014 flash floods the waterfall area completely collapsed and rest was done after land sliding occurs here and killed several tourists in 2018. After this incident, the administration barred the entry of tourists and started renovation and repair work here which is still underway. I voted for tourism development, better roads and employment opportunities”. He was seconded by Sahil Sharma, a 22-years-old voter from Talwara.
A 19-year-old voter Muskan Khatri lined up outside polling station Kheralair said that she and others from her village are voting for their future. “We are facing a series of problems here including electricity, water supply, better education facilities etc. We have cast votes in the hope that our elected representatives will try to solve these problems,” Muskan added.
Pallak, another girl voter at polling station Bharakh said that there are no better health facilities in entire Pouni and even for minor cases, doctors refer patients to District Hospital Reasi or GMC Jammu. “I expect this scenario will change after DDC elections and winning candidate will definitely do something in this regard,” she added.
“Vote is great power and it is my constitutional obligation that I should cast this vote especially when the DDC elections are being held for the first time in the J&K,” said Vikas, a youth who had come from Jammu to Pouni to cast his vote at polling station Ransoo. This election and my vote will play a great role in strengthening democracy at grass root level, he said and hoped that the elected DDC candidate will focus on employment, industrialization and tourism development in Pouni and Ransoo, which has more potential for the same.
An elderly voter from Ransoo said that Shiv Khori is one of the popular shrines of J&K but no development happened there as has happened in other shrines like Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra. We hope that the winning candidate will keep his promise of development.
In Udhampur main and Jaganoo DDC constituencies, people voted heavily, which was evident from the long queues of voters outside polling station. While young voters expressed that they are going to vote seeking better employment opportunities, elders voted for better roads, health facilities and power and water facilities.
Ram Lal, a 75-year-old man while on way to polling station located at Government Higher Secondary School Ghari said, “I never missed my right of voting which our constitution gives us but our elected representatives seldom keep their election promises.”
He said earlier also we used to vote for same issues like good roads, employment, better education, better health facilities and this time also we are voting for the same as these issues were never solved in the past. The old man said he has no hope that these issues will be solved in future too but still he has come to vote to fulfill his constitutional obligation.
“In never voted in any elections but this time I have come especially from Delhi to vote as first ever DDC elections has raised a hope in me that all our issues will be taken and solve on priority,” said Rakesh Singh, a mechanical engineer from village Jaganoo. Standing in the queue at a polling station, Singh said he had to leave J&K in search of job as there was no technical job for him. He hoped that elected DDC candidates will look into this aspect and will do something to create employment opportunities so that youth like him may not leave their district/UT in search of job.
Nisha, a first time voter after casting her vote at polling station Government Middle School Baryal, said that she does not expect much from elected DDC candidates except good roads, lanes & drains, regular water and power supply, better educational and health facilities as not only her but also neighbouring villages lack all these facilities.
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