<i>Elections never change Harijans' fate</i>

With the national election around the corner the value of the low class people in Rajbari, especially the Harijan community has gone up.
Their value only increases when votes approach. The candidates give them many pledges but forget those once the vote is over. Their problems pile up day by day. Sometimes their wage is also stopped on various excuses.
They live by the rail line at Binodpur in Rajbari town. Their colony comprises of about 80 families. The number of voters in the Harijan community is about 500. The candidates are trying to woo the voters in their respective favour and giving various pledges.
President of Durga Mandir in the Colony Rabilal Das and general secretary of Radha Gobinda Mandir Basudev Mondal said, "They (the candidates) in the past appeased us while seeking vote. This time that strategy will not work. We will vote the candidate who can solve our unemployment problem, water crisis, lack of school, dilapidated condition of the quarters. We will vote him who pledges to solve these problems."
Sunil and Hirshi Jamadar said, "We wanted water line for the Colony. They pledged but till now we have not got water connection. We suffer a lot for lack of water."
Milon Das and Uttam Das said, "Now many government offices are hiring people from other communities to the post of sweeper. As a result unemployment in our community is increasing. At present about 200 people are without job. Those who are on payroll get only Tk 800 to Tk 1,000 a month. How can a family meet the ends with this scanty amount? In some months they do not get salary.
Milon and Uttam said, they would vote the candidate who would speak in the parliament for their employment and increase of salary.
Another requesting anonymity said," During last election Chairman Ali Newaz Mahmud Khayyam said if he becomes an MP he would do a lot for us. But he did nothing for us."
Naresh Chandra Das, Shohon Lal Dom, Shanik Lal and several others said, "Nobody considers us as human beings. Our salaries get stuck up as we rear pigs."