*Express concern over rising unemployment, drug abuse
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 26: Voters in border areas of Jammu, Samba and Rajouri district turned out in large numbers to cast their vote to decide the fate of 22 candidates contesting from the Jammu Parliamentary constituency in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls today.
Without the fear of Pakistan shelling, people living near the International Border and Line of Control in Akhnoor, Ramgarh and Sunderbani sectors thronged the Polling Stations, and voted for peace and more development along the borders with Pakistan. However, they expressed concern over rising unemployment and drug abuse among the youth in border villages.
Sukhdev Singh, a 60-year-old voter who cast his vote at a Polling Station established at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Akhnoor, said that shelling from across the border has remained a major concern for border residents but this time the elections are taking place in a peaceful atmosphere owing to a renewed ceasefire between the two countries on February 25, 2021. He said this time they are voting without the fear of Pakistan shelling and this is the reason of enthusiasm among them.
“Peace has ultimately prevailed in border areas. There is no loss of life for last more than three years except last year, when a BSF Jawan had attained martyrdom in Pakistan Rangers firing in the Ramgarh sector in Samba district,” said Ashok Singh, who cast his vote at a Polling Station established in a Government School at Pallanwala, with the hope that the peace will continue to prevail along the borders, paving way for more development in these areas. He said the neighboring country is now targeting our youth through drug abuse and there is urgent need to take some effective steps to prevent our young population from this menace.
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“Earlier, we were living under the looming threat of firing and shelling from across the border but the situation has changed now and we are carrying out our daily chores, including farming, normally,” said former Sarpanch Parveen Singh after casting his vote at a Polling Station in Suchetgarh sector. He said they are happy as almost all Government schemes are now reaching the border areas, ensuring the upliftment of the people and the development of the region.
However, former Panch Sham Singh was critical of the Government and said the promised five marlas of land for border residents to ensure a roof on their heads during cross-border shelling had remained a distant dream. He also criticized the Government for its alleged failure to generate employment opportunities for the youth, introducing Agnipath scheme and delaying Assembly elections. We want assembly elections so that the popular Government is restored, he asserted.
Asha Rani, a first-time voter at a Polling Station in Arnia, said she wanted the Government to focus on employment generation. “I have fulfilled my responsibility by voting and now I expect that the upcoming Government will also fulfill its responsibility towards the younger generation by generating enough employment opportunities,” she added.
Rajni Devi, a resident of village Satrian in the R S Pura sector, said she would like Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return to power as there is a lot of improvement in the lives of the border residents due to the ceasefire and developmental activities. However, she expressed concerned over poor health and education facilities in border areas.
“We are farmers and want everlasting peace between the two countries so that we can venture into our land on the zero line without any fear. Peace means opportunities and education for our children,” another voter, Swarn Lal said while adding that he is voting in the hope of more development and more educational & employment opportunities for his children.
The enthusiasm among the voters was also visible in the Ramgarh sector of the Samba district, where the voters also talked about the growing menace of drug abuse among youngsters and inflation. “Unemployment is on the rise as a result of which the youth are falling prey to narcotic smugglers. There is a need to engage the youth in positive activities by generating employment for them,” Kamlesh Kumar, a middle-aged voter said after casting her vote at Sanoori village of Ramgarh sector.
“We are happy that there is peace on the borders and people, who are mostly farmers, are attending their land. Earlier, we used to spend days mostly outside our homes due to Pakistani shelling,” said Om Prakash after casting his vote at a Polling Station in Ghagwal village of Ramgarh sector. He said in last 5 years, particularly after fresh ceasefire in 2021, the villages along the border have witnessed tremendous developmental activities. “Now, we have good roads, tiled lanes and cemented drains which we had not even thought of,” he added.
Mohd Iqbal, a young voter who cast his vote at a Polling Station in Kangri village in Sunderbani sector said, “Our borders are now peaceful and what we want next is, employment opportunities. In Congress era, several special recruitment drives were organized in J&K by BSF, Army and Air force but in last 10 years, no such rallies have been organized. We are looking forward to a Government which may provide adequate employment opportunities to the youth”.
Similar views were echoed by another voter, Praveen Kumar, at a Polling Station in border village Peli in Sunderbani sector. “We want a Government which thinks of younger generation as due to rising unemployment, youth are going towards drug menace,” he added.
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