Dipayal, May 10

Sixty-five-year-old Tara Badi of Silgadi-Dipayal Municipality has not shown any concern about the upcoming local level elections. She has not bothered about any political force or for which party to cast her vote in Doti. However, the political forces contesting the polls have been concerned most about garnering votes from the Badi community to emerge victorious.

Tara lamented that all the elected leaders had made big promises, but never fulfilled them. “This time I am not going to cast my vote on the basis of false assurances. Some of them assured they would grant land, while some others vowed to build house, but we are still living on the edge of the road while the elected leaders have big, luxurious houses,” argued Tara.

She said that they had to wander from door-to-door from early morning to earn their living. “Those leaders who hesitated to communicate until the poll announcement, have started to approach our locality and speak to us. I will cast my vote for the force which guarantees shelter,” said Tara.

When a person talks about the polls, she first raises the issues of food, shelter and clothes. Tara, who has changed her residence for more than seven times, demanded land for house construction and a permanent residence.  Though they were original resident of Gairagaun of Doti, they shifted to Patakani of Silgadi Municipality and then to Simar and Gadpani of Barbata. They have been living in a shanty at Sungada after leaving Rajpur of Dipayal.

Tara has four daughters and two sons.

“I am in need of a government that can provide us our basic needs. Hence, people from Badi community need to be given special priority. We are in the same position now as we were decades back, but the leaders have taken a huge leap with regard to their lifestyle and status,” said another local Padam Das.

There are around 200 houses belonging to the marginalised Badi community in Silgadi Municipality.