Mahnar: Cheating infamy over, sufferings stay

Mahnar (Vaishali): The place went viral on social media in March this year after snapshots showed guardians scaling the walls of a multistoreyed school building to deliver chits to their wards writing matriculation examination. But, six months on, it’s all forgotten. Now, poor connectivity and erratic power supply are the major poll issues in Mahnar in Vaishali going to the polls in the third phase on October 28.The picture of neglect is similar in most of the Mahnar villages which lack proper roads, power and drinking water supply besides education facilities for the kids.
“Most of the roads, including the main roads, are in bad shape. It takes more than an hour to cover a 20km stretch between Mahnar and Mahua, a neighbouring block in Vaishali district. It is just one example,” says Ravindra Kumar of Dhandhua village. He claims that cheating in Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) examination is a thing of past which no one even talks about now. Incidentally, one can find many small hutments selling ‘beer and snacks’ along the Mahua-Mahnar road throughout the day.
Kaushal Kishore Das, who has been running his shop in Dhandhua for the last few years, says he has hardly seen any change in the area. “I want better schools for my kids and improved roads for better business,” he adds. Locals say girls have to walk almost two kilometers if they want to study after Class X.
While the constituency has a sizable population of Rajputs and Brahmins, backward castes are also dominant in certain pockets.
“There is no employment opportunity in the area. All our children have to go to Patna or outside the state for college education or job,” Rukmini Devi of Mahnar told TOI.
Sitting BJP MLA Dr Achyutanand is facing JD(U) candidate Umesh Singh Kushwaha who had unsuccessfully contested for this seat as an independent in 2010.
CPI, JAP-Loktantrik and BSP have also fielded their nominees.
Damyanti Kumari of Jandaha says no politician looks back at the poor people after getting elected to office. “They come to seek our votes. But, when it comes to providing us with basic facilities of even drinking water or proper sanitation, no one cares,” she said, claiming that many houses in her locality still have no toilet.