Hailing from the same village near Senapati town, Augustine Ngatuba, 40, and RK Paul Chawang, 44, are going around creating awareness among voters to directly find out from the candidates their respective visions for the constituency and their localities, so they could subsequently hold the elected representative accountable for unfulfilled pre-poll commitments.
Augustine and Paul have been impressing family members, friends, community members and NGOs to meet the candidates in their constituency (Tadubi), while they are campaigning or take the pain of meeting them in person.
Based on the candidates’ vision and goals, the voter can decide whom to vote for and also question the winning candidate on pre-poll promises.
This, the duo feel, will pile pressure on the elected representative to deliver or face uncomfortable questions the next time they come seeking their votes.
So far, Augustine has interacted with around 50 family members and an equal number of friends, besides two candidates from their constituency Tadubi. There are four candidates in the fray. Paul has been interacting with members of three nearby villages and NGOs.
These exchanges started when they were home for Christmas in December and resumed in the run-up to the polls on March 5 because they know each vote counts. But to make it really count it is also important to be aware and responsible voters.
They are at present at home to vote on Friday, but both aver this was just not enough.
“Awareness about whom to vote for and why to vote were equally important. The voters need to know more than the party manifesto. This will put pressure on the eventual winner which, in turn, will give a push to need-based development activities. At the end of the day we all vote for development and peace,” Augustine said.
Both Augustine and Paul are self-employed development professionals working in the education sector, among others, in association with leading organisations and state governments. Augustine and Paul operate out of Guwahati (Assam) and Roing (Arunachal Pradesh), respectively.
The hill-valley development divide is a recurring theme in any discussion on the two-phase elections. “But instead of blaming others for lack of development we need to ask ourselves what we are doing to change the system. Are we voting right?” Paul asked.
There are 16 districts in Manipur of which ten are in the hills, including Senapati. In comparison to the valley districts, the hill districts face far more problems as far as roads (or the lack of it), health, education and sanitation are concerned.
Most here observe the “neglected” hills desperately need to create infrastructure and jobs for gainful employment and lasting peace.
Paul said the condition in the interiors of the district is pathetic, most basic facilities are missing or are simply inadequate and the people don’t know whom to ask. There are many who share his views.
“We (Senapati) saw some development because the NH 2 (road that connects it to both Imphal and Kohima) passing through it,” said Peter Rangnamei, 51, who has been trying to make a difference with his initiatives for youth and farmers, among others.
Paul and Augustine, however, make it clear that their initiative is neutral. They will decide whom the voters support, they said.
“We know this change will not happen overnight but it will be great if people start talking, especially in remote areas, why to vote and whom to vote for. Apart from community members we also plan to reach out to NGOs to spread awareness. Ours is a baby step about knowing the candidates and holding elected representatives accountable,” Paul said, pointing out that the Election Commission has been doing a lot for voter awareness but these steps are mostly confined to urban areas.
“They should focus more on remote rural areas to ensure voters know about their candidates and not get swayed by extraneous factors. They get to know what the representatives of the candidates want them to know.
“There are over 100 central government schemes for development and welfare of the people but proper implementation is required for the benefits to reach the people. We are using this opportunity to be the voice of the people,” Paul said.
He also recalled how his petition had seen the authorities order repoll in one of the polling booths where there was widespread rigging and intimidation in the autonomous district council polls in 2015.