UP village renames itself ‘PoK’

Locals find unique way to highlight lack of development

There is going to be a bit of Kashmir in Uttar Pradesh too. The residents of a village in Kanpur district have decided to protest against the lack of development by simply renaming their village as PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).

Simranpur village in Ghatampur, has negligible health and education facilities. Electricity in the village is a rare visitor and the entire village that has a population of about 800 has only one hand pump that has run dry. The local people depend on two wells where the water level is receding.

Two days ago, the villagers put up placards renaming the village as PoK on all commercial establishments in the village.

“We will continue to call our village PoK until the administration decided to take a look here. We are living in a state of deprivation and unless we are given proper water and power facilities, we will continue with our protests,” said Bunty, one of those leading the campaign. The villagers apparently saw reports about PoK on TV where the people were demanding basic amenities and instantly decided to rename their village after PoK.

The local people pleaded with their BJP MLA Abhijeet Singh Sanga but he turned a blind eye. “These politicians think that the village has a small population and, therefore, less vote value. Earlier, the SP MLA did nothing for us and now the BJP MLA is doing the same,” said Bunty.

What has made the villagers even angrier is the fact that development has taken place in their neighbouring Daulatpur village but Simranpur has been left unattended.

The villagers now want the media to publicise the renaming of the village and hope that this will wake up the administration.

“This is the only way to break the status quo. Sabko jagana hai to media to bulana hi padega,” Bunty added.