In bypoll-bound Damoh, a village shuts itself to interrupt coronavirus chain

IN TWO DAYS from now, individuals can be queuing as much as solid their votes within the Damoh Assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh. The district is witnessing large exercise with a string of leaders from each the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress addressing public gatherings in other places.
Presenting an image in stark distinction is a village Hinota Kalan which has about 3,500 residents. Picking up the gauntlet to interrupt the Covid-19 chain because the second wave of the pandemic rages, this village in Hatta tehsil in Damoh district determined to close itself down.
On Tuesday, when The Indian Express visited the village, streets lay vacant and all retailers remained closed. The silence in the primary street of the village was interrupted by the continual ringing of Narendra Chokariya’s cell phone. As BJP’s block upadhyaksha of Hatta, there have been calls for on him to organise individuals from his village to attend the general public assembly at neighbouring Laxman Kuti village. Rajya Sabha MP and BJP chief Jyotiraditya Scindia was campaigning in Laxman Kuti.
A bypoll was necessitated within the Damoh Assembly constituency after Rahul Singh Lodhi, a Congress MLA had defected in October 2020, and joined the BJP.
However, Chokariya, very similar to the three,500-odd residents of Hinota Kalan, didn’t need to danger his personal well being and security and that of others by getting them to take part in crowded public gatherings. He is much more guarded having spent practically Rs 1.5 lakhs in treating his youthful brother, who just lately recovered from Covid-19.
“I am committed to my party, but how do I push people to participate in something at the cost of their lives. Jaan hai toh jahaan hai,” says Chokariya.

On April 7, the state authorities issued a round asserting a weekend lockdown in city areas throughout all districts. It, nonetheless, exempted Damoh — headed for a by-election on April 17 — from any such restrictions. The administration left it to the District Election Officer to resolve on the character of restrictions to be imposed in Damoh.
In the district, political actions are in full swing with public gatherings being held on daily basis. Senior leaders equivalent to Digvijay Singh and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath from the Congress and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former CM Uma Bharati, and Lok Sabha MP Pralhad Patel, have been addressing individuals in several areas of the constituency.
While Hatta tehsil that lies about 50 kms from Damoh just isn’t ballot sure, political occasion employees like Chokariya are beneath strain to get individuals from their villagers for public gatherings. Another villager from Hinota Kalan who works for the Congress, mentioned he obtained comparable calls to get villagers when Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh had reached Damoh to marketing campaign.
On Tuesday, Damoh reported 74 constructive circumstances. So far, the district has recorded 3,519 constructive circumstances and 94 deaths. Villagers alleged there was no contact tracing, and with the federal government equipment centered on the by-polls, no policeman had visited the village. Hence, the Hinota Kalan villagers took the issues in their very own arms after their village noticed 4 deaths.

All retailers, vegetable distributors to meals grain retailers and tea stalls remained fully shut over the weekend. The lockdown was noticed on the decision of Gajendra Singh, a village elder, who went about with folded arms beseeching every businessman to close down his store.
“The CM is coming and holding public rallies at a time when the government should be imposing strict restrictions to avoid gathering of crowds. We decided to observe the lockdown until the elections conclude, and are hoping that after the polls, the government will wake up and do what is needed,” mentioned Gajendra Singh.