Jehanabad years away from development

Jehanabad: Contrary to the state government’s claims, Jehanabad remains a picture of industrial backwardness and social tension. Deriving its name from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s sister Jehan Ara and once known as the ‘karmabhoomi’ of legendary peasants leader Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, it later earned notoriety for caste wars and revenge killings.
In spite of sending several high-profile leaders to Parliament and state legislature, the area suffers for lack of assured irrigational facility, electricity, roads and other basic amenities. Potholed roads are good enough to indicate that you have entered Jehanabad district. Heaps of garbage along the main roads of the district headquarters town and a seemingly unending row of vehicles stuck in jams on NH 83 at Arwal Mor are a common sight. The perennially waterlogged railway underpass on NH-110, which connects Jehanabad to other neighbouring districts like Arwal, Aurangabad and Bhojpur, continues to be a festering sore for the vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Jehanabad remains a zero-industry district. Electricity still eludes more than 30% of its villages and tolas. On education front, children squatting on the ground in ‘makeshift classrooms’ are a familiar sight in Jehanabad town. Health facilities are scarce. The district sadar hospital is nothing more than a referral hospital. Even minor medical cases are referred to Patna or Gaya.
Jehanabad is all set to witness straight contests between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan in all the three assembly constituencies — Jehanabad sadar, Makhdumpur and Ghosi. In Jehanabad sadar, former minister Mundrika Singh Yadav of RJD is in direct contest with Pravin Kumar of RLSP. In Makhdumpur, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is pitted against RJD greenhorn Subedar Das. Ghosi is also set for a virtual straight fight between Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular nominee Rahul Kumar and Mahagathbandhan candidate Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma.