Slum dwellers don't know if voting makes a difference

In this slum in New Delhi constituency, people are unsure if they will cast their votes on February 7. Not only they do not know who their “neta” is, slum dwellers here wonder whether voting will serve any purpose.

Lack of basic amenities, garbage strewn across the area, lack of toilets are the issues faced by this slum cluster in Kidwai Nagar East. Situated only metres away from the upscale South Extension market, residents here mostly eke out living as tea sellers, day labourers or rickshawalas.

Even though they have spent almost 40 years in this slum cluster, the quality of lives has not seen any improvement, said residents.

In this high-profile constituency, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will contest BJP’s Nupur Sharma. The Congress has fielded Kiran Walia, an ex-state minister from the seat.

The constituency was earlier a Congress stronghold. During the 2013 Assembly Elections, Kejriwal defeated ex-chief minister Sheila Dikshit by a margin of over 25,000 votes. Voters in this slum have a soft corner for the Congress.

The sentiment goes in favour of the Congress with the earlier generations voting for the party. As the slum-dwellers put it is “loyalty” for the “age-old” party and not because the party has done anything significant for them.

But this time they are not sure anymore.
“Not even one politician has visited us till now. It is like we are not a part of the city. Why should we vote? We want to see if any party comes here in the last few days before polling,” said Yashodha.

Here the rule of voters is simple. “We will vote for the party who at least comes here and listens to our problems,” she added.

Though electricity is not a problem anymore, water supply and lack of sewer lines are the major problems here, said residents.

“A day before, there was a death in the family. With relatives coming in, we did not have enough drinking water. Supply of water for washing clothes and carrying out other basic necessities is also inadequate,” said Hansa Devi.

“I came in my youth here...now I have grandchildren. The quality of life has remained the same,” she added.

Though most residents have added individual toilets to their houses, a few do not have space for it. Defecating in the open is not uncommon here either.

With the construction of a mall just metres away, pollution is another major issue. “But we have to deal with it till we are shifted out.

We are at the mercy of the government. We cannot make up our minds if we should vote at all,” said Jamuna Prasad, a day labourer, who has not been able to find work for over a month now.

For Noorjahan, who runs a tea-stall in the nearby South Extension market, “voting” is important.

“May be AAP is a better choice? Not that it matters to us who comes in power.”