Himachal voters want employment

On the eve of the final round of Assembly elections, villagers in Himachal are demanding more employment opportunities.

Shimla/Dharamsala, Dec 18 : On the eve of the final round of Assembly elections, villagers in Himachal are demanding more employment opportunities.

Most of these families belong to the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category in the State and they also want ration cards and other basic amenities.

These voters say that they would support anyone who would ensure fulfilment of their basic demands.

The voters say the present public distribution system is faulty.

Women from the below poverty line families say that there is nobody to pay heed to their plight. They have to pay certain taxes even when they are living in sheds.

Elderly women in the Kangra Valley, who are living by themselves, want the political candidates to promise increase in their pension.

"I live with my daughter. I am facing a lot of problems. I am neither getting pension nor have ration card to get grains," said Tripta Devi, one of the elderly women.

The elderly folk say they will vote for a government that helps them in getting old-age pension.

According to Congress leaders, the State government has decided to make a list and verify the BPL families.

In Himachal Pradesh, there are over five lakh fourteen thousand BPL families which include the Antyodya families.

Opposition party in the Assembly, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has, meanwhile, made these demands their main political issue ahead of the polls on the basis of Antyodaya Anna Yojana, once started by the previous BJP Government.

BJP has alleged that the Congress Government is not implementing this scheme aimed at ameliorating the condition of the poorest segment of society.

The first phase of elections was held on November 14. The second phase of elections are scheduled to be held Wednesday (Dec.19).

ANI