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Usually this hillside village in north Kashmir is devoid of any color and exercise in the autumn. But this winter, Dangiwacha is grabbing eyeballs with seven girls from the realm locked in a fierce election battle.
Aarti Nehru, a Kashmiri girl in her mid-thirties, has been crisscrossing villages to woo individuals to vote for her in the District Development Council (DDC) polls that can start on Saturday.
Nehru guarantees to redress points like restore of roads, culverts, apart from enhancing the facility state of affairs in the realm.
“I am put off by the non-existent facilities in our villages. Nothing has changed here for so many years,” she mentioned, standing on a roadside mound as anxious villagers assembled to listen to her out.
“Our representatives have never thrown their lot to help the poor population. I will try to be your agent of change,” she mentioned in damaged Kashmiri.
Married to a resident of Uttar Pradesh, Nehru mentioned the poor situation of the villagers pressured her to contest the DDC polls. She drove into her native village to reconnect with associates and neighbours. “They were happy with my nomination and assured support,” she mentioned, tapping her high-heeled footwear on the highway.
“I am contesting as an independent. There are no strings attached and I don’t have to lie. I hope people give me a chance,” she mentioned whereas adjusting a bindi on her brow.
Nehru mentioned the overwhelming Muslim inhabitants is not making any distinction whereas voting for her. “Religion does not matter in Kashmir. It is the only place where there are no religious biases,” she added. An previous man in a crowd that had gathered by now vowed to vote for her. A dozen extra raised their arms in help.
Nehru is primarily based in Delhi the place she helps her husband’s enterprise. She mentioned she usually travels to Dangiwacha to satisfy household and associates. “I live in Pransu village… beyond those mountains. They keep calling me back,” she mentioned.
She mentioned she was in politics from childhood, however was undecided that may start from her personal village. “My father is a social worker and politician,” she said. Over the last week, Nehru has been knocking doors of villagers in remote areas to convince them of what she intends to do as she informs them of their rights and various schemes. “If I win I will try to sort out people’s issues,” she mentioned.
Nehru is being challenged by 23-year-old lawyer-turned-politician Ruqaya Fayaz. Though a rookie in politics, Fayaz said she has earned a little repute for herself by raising awareness levels in the villages, especially among women. “Women should pursue education, earn and stand on their feet,” she tells a motley group of young girls in pheran and scarfs during her rally.
Fayaz said she has set up a non-profit trust that trains young village girls in vocation like hand-arts. Besides, she supports poor families. “I come from a very poor family and am aware of the issues they face,” she said. “Being a lawyer, I know how to file RTIs and make officers accountable. A lot of central schemes were introduced in our villages after I stepped in,” she said.
Fayaz said she does not talk about big political issues like Article 370 because that is beyond her. “That is for big leaders. I have confined myself to smaller local issues,” she said.
One of the favourites to win the seat, villagers said, is Parmeet Kaur, a 30-year-old Sikh woman and mother of a three-year-old. She is affiliated to the People’s Conference and is a joint candidates of the Gupkar Alliance. Kaur said she has been campaigning hard since the day she filed her application. She said her focus has been on the tribal belts because development has eluded them for decades.
“Their children have no access to good schools, good education. They have to walk long distances as there are no road-links to the hills. Power remains snapped for weeks together in winters,” she said. “They are the most deprived community and there is a dire need to make an intervention.”
Kaur said she made a maiden foray into politics and no one in her family has been in public life before this. “My husband is a driver. He has been very supportive,” she said, adding, “In fact, my father-in-law and his brothers have been campaigning for me.”
“I talk about schools, proper sewage disposal, roads and nullahs and people seem to be very keen to give me a chance,” she said.
As many as 43 DDC seats are going to polls on Saturday amid a heavy safety bandobast. However, the competition in Dangiwacha — a seat reserved for girls — will likely be watched keenly.
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