Day-to-day hardship killing voter enthusiasm for polls
There is a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming polls, among the majority of the people of the Puthukudiyiruppu and the Maritime Pattu Pradeshiya Sabha areas.
The two areas saw the worst of the fighting during the final days of the war and trying to make ends meet is a daily struggle for these people.
Elections were scheduled for March 24, but a petition filed by some displaced voters living at the Manik Farm welfare camp has cast doubts as to whether the poll could be conducted as scheduled.
A tour of the area last week however revealed both voters as well as candidates were keen, the election be held as scheduled.
They feel setting up the councils could go some way to assist the people, a majority of whom have been re-settled in these areas after living many months in welfare camps.
S.L. Vasurdeeen, a candidate of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) in the Maritime Pattu area said the postponement of the elections was particularly troublesome to candidates because of the high cost of electioneering.
“These polls have been postponed on several occasions and it is time to hold them without further delay” he said.
Many residents felt the functioning of the Pradeshiya Sabhas would make little difference to their lives. However they felt the Sabhas could have an impact in resolving some of the administrative hassles.
S. Sudharshan who is constructing a shop in Puthukudiyirippu, hoped with the conclusion of elections, the welfare needs of the people would be addressed. “For many people, their day-to-day existence is a struggle and we want the government to expedite the welfare programmes,” he said.
There are around 44,000 registered voters in the two areas, with 23,169 in Puthukudiyirippu while the Maritime Pattu PS area has approximately 21,513 voters.
S. Sudhakaran Assistant Commissioner of Elections Mullaitivu said all arrangements had been finalised to hold elections.
72 candidates from six parties are vying for the nine seats in the Puthukudiyirippu Pradesiya Sabha, while 90 candidates from six political parties are contesting the 11 seats in the Maritime Pattu PS division.
A mere 368 persons from both electorates have applied for postal voting
Mr. Sudhakaran said that since the people were voting for the first time in a PS poll, several programmes had to be carried out to educate the voters on how to correctly mark their ballot papers.
The Assistant Commissioner of Elections also sought the assistance of election monitoring groups to issue temporary ID cards to voters as IDS are mandatory to cast one’s ballot.
Around 1,100 persons have applied for and been issued with temporary ID cards under a scheme carried out in collaboration with the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE).
A post master from Puthukudiyirippu said while most polling cards had been distributed to voters in these areas, another 2,000 registered voters who continue to live at Manik Farm had yet to receive their polling cards. He added registered voters living at Manik farm would be provided transport to polling booths on the day of the election.
Mary Grace 52 –a returnee- found the modalities of casting a vote beyond her comprehension. A mother of one, she makes a living like many others, selling bottled kerosene and petrol purchased from a filling station in the vicinity.
“I have a teenaged son, my husband has no job, my income varies between Rs 40 – Rs 60 per day. We- have to meet our daily needs with this meagre income” she said
I met several others –sherbet sellers- who make and sell the drinks outside their homes constructed with galvanized sheets and the Rs. 25,000 government provided families resettling in the two PS divisions after the areas were cleared of land mines.
Kanakasundaram Swami, a TNA candidate in Puthukudiyirippu who once served as a Grama Sevaka,said the setting up the councils would help expedite welfare programmes for the people.
“Once we have elected representatives at this level, we can take up issues with the higher authorities,” he said.
However, looking at the myriad of problems faced by the people of Puthukudiyirippu and Maritime Pattu, it is clear that the travails faced by the people would continue for a considerable time even if the PS functions smoothly in the aftermath of elections.