Lack of development cripples Maldah

Even though Hopna Tudu, 57, a tribal woman from Atkali village in Maldah district could not meet Mamata, just a gliance of the leader was enough. She trekked nearly 10 kilometres almost on empty stomach. “I am happy I could see her for the first time from very close,” her voice got drowned as hundreds of tribals who thronged the rally ground with Madol and Dhamsa (tribal drums), were returning home, beating a typical tune.
“I heard she’ll be our next chief minister; so we wanted to have a close look,” Hopna said. But what change Mamata could bring that made her undertake such a long trek? “We’ve remained poor for decades; none bothered about us. We’ve to give her time to work,” she replied.

There is no provision of drinking water in Atkali village. Hopna and her two daughters used to ferry water from a place nearly 3 km away. Her husband, Satish, who was beating a Madol, is a daily wage earner and occasionally travelled to neighbouring Jhargram to work in a stone-crushing unit. More than half of the group believe Mamata could bring change in their lives.

However, not all are convinced. Phulmani Tudu of Manoharpukur village was disappointed. “Mamata only spoke about ousting the CPM and promised to do something for Maldah. We’ve heard such promises in the past. She has been heaping promises now for our vote; she might forget everything if she becomes the CM,” Phulmani said.

It was late Congress leader and former railway minister A B A Gani Khan Choudhury, people of Maldah agree, who transformed this district into a bustling town and with his death, development screeched to a halt and Maldah has been bursting at seams.
Pollution has reached enormous levels following a complete collapse of drainage and sewerage system. Arsenic-affected drinking water is a death threat. Lack of industries and employment opportunities have forced the youth to migrate. Last but not the least, a burgeoning rise in population, specially immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh, has been putting a massive pressure on the available infrastructure.

Locals said though they have a medical college and hospital, it is too small and lacks infrastructure. A JNNURM project for water supply has been stopped. Unless the town is expanded beyond the outskirts, the chaos will worsen further.