Assam's Amethi thirsts for pure drinking water

Titabar: Pratima Gaur (65) shuttles between her house inside Choraipani Tea Estate in Assam's Titabor constituency and the small stream that runs through the garden, carrying pots of water for drinking and household chores.
Like her, other womenfolk, too, follow the same routine from dawn to dusk every day.
For the 1500-odd population in the British-era tea garden tucked away in a corner of chief minister Tarun Gogoi's election turf which is often referred to as 'Assam's Amethi,' drinking water is still a dream.
Like in the rest of the state's tea belt, workers at this garden, too, suffer from neglect and apathy. Situated just 7 km km from Titabor town, there is only one school in the area with a pathetic ratio of two teachers for 400 students. There is one hospital but no doctors. There is only one nurse to look for help.
The garden, which produces one of India's finest brews, has only 300 educated youths. In the last 15 years, only youth has got a government job as a school teacher. While some of them have continued the family tradition of working as garden workers, few are struggling as contractors. Again, some have become 'netas' of student organizations.
One of the major gardens among the 37 estates in the constituency, Choraipani has been lucky enough to get electricity. But people in surrounding areas like Charapur, Rajabari and Dholi are still without power.
Titabor constituency is one of the 38 assembly seats where tea garden workers decide the fortunes of political parties. The 56,000 voters, spread over 37 estates constituting over 45% of the constituency's electorate, are up grabs for chief minister Tarun Gogoi and his challenger Kamakhya Tasa, who is half his age. The total voter strength of the constituency is 1,33,450.
Tasa, a former tea student leader and BJP's Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat, promises to bring 'sarabananda' in the gardens under the leadership of the party's chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal. Members of Assam Tea Tribes Student Association (Attsa) are rallying behind their former president, Tasa, this election.
"We are not supporting any party. But we are asking our people to exercise conscience voting to elect the right candidate, who can change our fate," said Santosh Sing, president of Jorhat district unit of Attsa.
He added, "We are tired of carrying out agitations for getting drinking water, schools, teachers, hospitals, doctors and roads. The chief minister had announced a Rs 100-crore drinking water scheme. The infrastructure was built but not a drop of water came."
Tasa and his supporters are aware of the divided tea garden votes. "Since Independence, the tea tribe has been loyal to Congress and BJP is just a new entrant. The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (the apex body of tea tribe) is behind Congress," said Arunim Hazarika, a political analyst from the constituency.
Tasa expects to dethrone Gogoi with the slogan of underdevelopment. "I am going to the people with the issue of underdevelopment and corruption in the last 15 years. I believe people have realized the deprivation," said Tasa.
Tasa also has not been able to breach into the 20% Christian followers of his own community. "We don't think the Chrsitians will ever vote for a BJP candidate," said Attsa's Jorhat district leader. The rest 55% of the constituency's population comprise Ahoms, Muslims and other tribal groups.
Gogoi, who was born in a tea estate in the constituency, made his debut as an MLA from the constituency through a by-election in 2001 after his brother, Dip, stepped down to allow the older sibling to become the chief minister for the first time. Since then, Gogoi was returned from the constituency twice. In 2011, Gogoi polled 61.14% votes. In his two earlier outings, he has won with an average margin of 45,000 votes over his nearest rival.
The chief minister minced no words in admitting that he has not been able to devote more time to his constituency because of his busy schedule as the chief minister. "I am sorry. But I promise I to give more time to my constituency," said Gogoi. This is another point that his rival, Tasa, is trying to drive home as he campaigns in Assam's own Amethi.
Gogoi is taking the young challenger in Tasa in his stride. He calls Tasa not as his rival but someone who is like his son. "If I have worked for the constituency, people will vote for me. If I have not, they will vote for my opponent," he said.