Hospitals, Schools, Road, and Harmony: These are the issues on the voter's agenda in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur this upcoming election season.
Outlook’s Rakhi Bose talks to Dalit villagers in the Shabbirpur village of Saharanpur district, which saw clashes in 2017 that escalated into caste based violence in the region.
Traversing districts, traversing truths: Our reporter's pledge to uncover every pulse and pulse-point this election season.
Outlook’s Rakhi Bose talks to Dalit villagers in the Shabbirpur village of Saharanpur district, which saw clashes in 2017 that escalated into caste based violence in the region.
Traversing districts, traversing truths: Our reporter's pledge to uncover every pulse and pulse-point this election season.
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MusicTranscript
00:00 We are in Shabbirpur village of Saharanpur district.
00:08 Saharanpur is one of the eight seats in western Uttar Pradesh that are going to polls on April
00:12 19th in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.
00:15 Saharanpur is a district where both Dalit as well as Rajput communities stay.
00:20 In 2017, the village was in news because of clashes between the two communities.
00:24 Today we are here ahead of elections to find out what the situation is in this village,
00:30 what are the aspirations and hopes and dreams of the people here and what are they asking
00:34 from their government.
00:35 Sir, please tell us your name and where you are from.
00:39 Sister, my name is Palturam.
00:41 I am from Shabbirpur village of Saharanpur district.
00:44 Sir, elections are coming up.
00:46 What are the issues of your district and village that you would like to bring forward?
00:51 Sir, our aim in elections is to bring forward the development of our village and our district.
01:00 For example, we have built hospitals and schools in our village.
01:05 We have built roads and bridges and we are near the Indra river.
01:11 We don't have any such issues.
01:14 Raghola Kampal Siddhi is from Bhajpa.
01:17 His father is also from Bhajpa.
01:19 But he has declared that he has adopted the village of Shabbirpur.
01:24 He has put up a board in his name.
01:26 But till now he has not come here.
01:28 He has come to Bhajpa.
01:30 He is telling about this.
01:32 The chairman of Majid Ali, his wife, has done so much development work.
01:40 There are stones in their village.
01:42 He has given roads and bridges.
01:44 He has done a lot of work.
01:46 He is the chairman of his family.
01:51 He has done a lot of development work.
01:53 There are stones in their village.
01:55 So we want such a person.
01:57 A member of parliament who sees the development of the village.
02:00 And who talks to the big brother and the small brother.
02:04 We don't even talk to the big brother.
02:07 It is said that in western UP, people vote only by looking at the caste.
02:12 What do you vote by looking at the caste?
02:14 By looking at the work of the parliament.
02:16 We are the judges.
02:18 We are in the work.
02:20 What work has the government done in your village in the last 10 years?
02:25 Nothing special has happened in my village.
02:28 The village is like a cow shed.
02:32 The cattle are starving.
02:34 Where do we tie them?
02:36 They don't give water.
02:38 The government pays the salary.
02:40 Who will do it on Diwali?
02:42 The cow shed has been built.
02:44 Yes, the cow shed has been built.
02:46 The school has not been built.
02:48 No, the school has not been built.
02:50 The school is only till the 8th.
02:52 One last question.
02:54 What kind of situation is there here after the violence that took place here in 2017?
02:58 What kind of situation is there between the Dalit community and the Rajput community?
03:01 There is no problem.
03:03 If you want to come, you have to go.
03:05 If you want to sit, you have to get up.
03:07 We work in the field.
03:09 But whatever is done, will be done.
03:11 Now they are accepting the mistake.
03:13 We are also saying that whatever will happen, will happen.
03:15 We have to live in peace and harmony.
03:19 We come and go.
03:21 We also meet people like us.
03:23 We meet in their fields.
03:25 If you come and go, everything is there.
03:27 If you live with love, then there is no problem.
03:29 If you have to say anything last about your village, your society and this election, what will it be?
03:37 I am telling you, what else can I say about the election?
03:41 Look, it is a vote.
03:43 I will give my will to someone, you give your will to someone.
03:46 You like someone, I like someone.
03:48 Now everyone is talking about themselves.
03:51 Now I am telling you, our society is mostly like this.
03:55 We have to go to the NGO.
03:57 Look, most of the people are like this.
03:59 They have their own votes.
04:01 Whether they lose or win.
04:03 [Music]