In a hamlet situated beneath the constituency of Pushkar Assembly within the Ajmer Lok Sabha jurisdiction in Rajasthan, an act of electoral abstention unfolded on Friday, driven by the villagers’ outcry against the persistent dearth of potable water, which they perceive as government neglect.
Expressing their longstanding grievances, the denizens of Balwanta village conveyed to ETV Bharat their futile attempts over the years to draw attention to the absence of adequate drinking water provisions. Despite their persistent appeals, governmental intervention remains conspicuously absent, prompting the villagers to resort to the ultimate act of protest: boycotting the electoral process. Notably, the incumbent Pushkar MLA, Suresh Singh Rawat, holds the portfolio of State Water Resources Minister, yet the villagers lament that their entreaties have fallen on deaf ears.
In an endeavor to assuage the aggrieved populace and persuade them to exercise their electoral franchise, administrative officials descended upon the village. However, the villagers remained resolute in their stance, steadfastly refusing to participate in the electoral proceedings until their demand for connectivity to the Bisalpur pipeline is met.
“We have congregated here to denounce today’s electoral proceedings due to the acute shortage of potable water. Despite numerous visits by officials imploring us to cast our votes, our response has remained unequivocal: ‘Provide us with water, and we shall consider voting.’ While they have made repeated overtures, we have unanimously resolved not to partake in the electoral process. Our suffering has endured for far too long,” articulated Yashraj Gurjar, a villager among those engaged in dialogue with the officials, in conversation with ETV Bharat.
With a populace totaling approximately 3,000 individuals, the polling commenced at 7 am, yet no denizen of the village graced the polling station with their presence. Undeterred, law enforcement officers and representatives from the water supply department persistently endeavor to sway the villagers’ resolve.
Omkar Mundel, the Project Manager overseeing the Bisalpur Pipeline initiative, disclosed that a comprehensive plan amounting to Rs 150 crore for 64 villages stands prepared, with tenders slated for release post-elections.
Narendra Singh, the Executive Engineer of the Water Supply Department, assured that within a span of two to four days, arrangements for water provision in the village will be finalized. Furthermore, every household in the village will receive water through a dedicated tank. Having secured requisite approvals, expedited implementation of the project is assured. Additionally, a distinct proposal for the installation of a water pipeline within the village precincts is poised for submission to the state authorities.
On March 10 of the current year, the villagers had submitted a memorandum to the state’s Water Supply Minister, Kanhaiyalal Choudhary, apprising him of their predicament and beseeching the installation of a pipeline in Balwanta village. Minister Choudhary had pledged remedial action, yet the villagers lament that tangible progress has yet to materialize.