Will turnout at India’s highest booth go from 100% to nil?
SHIMLA: In 2019, the country’s highest polling station of Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti valley adjoining the China border saw 100% turnout.
This time, if the residents of the remote village located at a height of 15,256 feet in Mandi parliamentary constituency stick to their guns, it could see 0%.
The reason: Unemployment.
“Most villagers earn a living by working as daily wagers on contract for the public works department (PWD). Some of us had been employed for seven years with the department but were suddenly rendered jobless after our contracts were terminated last year. The department says it does not have the budget to continue with the work we were hired for,” said local resident Tenzin Lhundup, who represents the workers.
Lhundup along with villagers submitted a memorandum to Lahaul and Spiti additional deputy commissioner Rahul Jain last week, seeking the administration’s intervention to ensure their means of livelihood.
“We were about 20 villagers who worked with the PWD. We have no other source of income to fend for our families,” Lhundup said.
When contacted, Jain said: “I am aware of this and will take up their problem with the authorities concerned.”
The PWD comes under the