The Hindu Business Line : Bite the bullet

Elections may come and elections may go... but the backward villages of the Hazaribagh, Chatra and Latehar districts of Jharkhand remain untouched. The formation of a new government at Ranchi was hardly uppermost in the minds of the villagers. A State that is rich in mineral wealth, scores poorly on key indicators such as health, education, irrigation, power supply, roads and transportation. Name any sector and it is begging for attention.

To add to the misery, the threat from Maoist extremists is never far away. Migration in search of livelihood is common, and the men go away leaving the women and children behind to face an uncertain future.

Meanwhile, the violence that dominates the lives of people was poignantly portrayed in this slogan at a bus stop in Lamta village of Chatra district: "Vote dena mana hai. Na manney par juta, rifle ready hai". (You're forbidden from voting; defiance will get you blows from the boot or the rifle.)

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