Skewed development not an issue in non-tribal areas
Even Modi's staunch critics find it difficult to deny credit to the Gujarat chief minister for this one job well done.
By Aarthi Ramachandran, TNN |
VADODARA: Everywhere one travels, roads are proof of chief minister Narendra Modi’s development claims. It is so even in distant villages. Even Mr Modi’s staunch critics find it difficult to deny credit to the chief minister for this one job well done.
But, hiding just a little further off, from were the road turns, are signs of a state that is grappling with uneven development. In urban Vadodara, infrastructure is crumbing under the pace of growth, bringing with it attendant problems of water shortage, traffic congestion, lack of sanitation facilities and flooding during monsoons.
In rural areas, the poorest remain derived of basic facilities such as medical care at hand and schools beyond class three. There is power shortage that affects farming, profits from agriculture are on a decline and sections among Scheduled Tribes earn barely Rs 30.
But, for all the skewed development, if there is one theme that one hears repeatedly in the 13 constituencies that make up Vadodara district it is: “What the Congress could not do in the last 40 years, Narendra Modi had done in five years”. Not only is development not an issue in the non-tribal parts of central Gujarat but in some cases, where the local candidate has performed much below expectation, the Narendra Modi factor could pull the BJP out of defeat. The district goes to the polls in the second phase of voting on December 16.
In Kahona village, which does not have an approach road due to an under-construction bridge which has not been completed for the last two years, people blame local politicians but Narendra Modi still remains the man who brought them village roads, power supply and water through the Narmada canal. Agriculture is clearly under strain here with people deserting cultivation of sugarcane due to water shortage and falling crop prices but that has not affected support for BJP.
In Dhavat, which is another village 5 km from Karjan town, there are complaints about the price of sugarcane. “Sugarcane harvesting did not happen here last year and this year the prices have come down again,” says one farmer. The prices of the crop have come down in Gujarat’s sugar belt by Rs 400-500 crashing from around Rs 1,400-Rs 1,500 to Rs 850-Rs 950.
Some co-operative sugar mills like the one near Karjan did not have crop crushing the last season. But, with most sugar mills here – the belt extends from Karjan in Vadodara to Surat and further in South Gujarat — being healthy unlike in Maharashtra, the effect of discontentment is limited and does not include Narendra Modi in its ambit.
But, hiding just a little further off, from were the road turns, are signs of a state that is grappling with uneven development. In urban Vadodara, infrastructure is crumbing under the pace of growth, bringing with it attendant problems of water shortage, traffic congestion, lack of sanitation facilities and flooding during monsoons.
In rural areas, the poorest remain derived of basic facilities such as medical care at hand and schools beyond class three. There is power shortage that affects farming, profits from agriculture are on a decline and sections among Scheduled Tribes earn barely Rs 30.
But, for all the skewed development, if there is one theme that one hears repeatedly in the 13 constituencies that make up Vadodara district it is: “What the Congress could not do in the last 40 years, Narendra Modi had done in five years”. Not only is development not an issue in the non-tribal parts of central Gujarat but in some cases, where the local candidate has performed much below expectation, the Narendra Modi factor could pull the BJP out of defeat. The district goes to the polls in the second phase of voting on December 16.
In Kahona village, which does not have an approach road due to an under-construction bridge which has not been completed for the last two years, people blame local politicians but Narendra Modi still remains the man who brought them village roads, power supply and water through the Narmada canal. Agriculture is clearly under strain here with people deserting cultivation of sugarcane due to water shortage and falling crop prices but that has not affected support for BJP.
In Dhavat, which is another village 5 km from Karjan town, there are complaints about the price of sugarcane. “Sugarcane harvesting did not happen here last year and this year the prices have come down again,” says one farmer. The prices of the crop have come down in Gujarat’s sugar belt by Rs 400-500 crashing from around Rs 1,400-Rs 1,500 to Rs 850-Rs 950.
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Some co-operative sugar mills like the one near Karjan did not have crop crushing the last season. But, with most sugar mills here – the belt extends from Karjan in Vadodara to Surat and further in South Gujarat — being healthy unlike in Maharashtra, the effect of discontentment is limited and does not include Narendra Modi in its ambit.
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