It looks like a special day at Kailadevi temple in Sapotra constituency. With hundreds of people jostling to get ahead on the encroached roads leading to the temple, the scene has all the trappings of a rural religious fair.
Sanjay Sharma, who sells prasad and religious insignia at the entrance of the long temple corridor, said there was no special celebrations for the day.”It is a routine affair. Over 10,000 pilgrims from the district and outside visit the temple every day. It goes up to over a lakh during Navratri, and far more during the Chaitra fair (March-April),” said Sharma.
Despite housing the most popular destination in the region, Kailadevi town in Karauli district hardly has anything to show as development. It has mattered little that the constituency is represented by the state’s rural development and panchayati raj minister, Ramesh Chand Meena.
It is the temple trust that cleans the town’s roads. Littered roads, and mounds of garbage not being cleaned for days together are not uncommon as the trust keeps fighting with the panchayat samiti for funds and development programmes.
“So many people depend on the pilgrims for their livelihood. But there are no facilities that would draw more devotees and encourage them to spend more time in the town. Most of the pilgrims are from villages. High-spending pilgrims do not come here. Facilities such as good roads, parking, rest houses are all missing,” said a shop owner.
Congress leader Ramesh Chand Meena has won the Sapotra seat, reserved for STs, for three consecutive terms. Now, anti-incumbency sentiments have set in for him, said residents.
“We have been voting for Congress. But this time, we want a new face who can address our issues. Look at the roads, how bad they are. The area has been neglected in every parameter,” said Ram Laxman Meena from Atalpur.
While BJP is yet to announce its candidate for the seat, voters said they want an MLA who is accessible. “We want a leader we can meet and convince about our problems. Schools and healthcare facilities are in a pretty bad shape here. They need urgent attention,” said another resident.
The hilly terrain and semi-arid topography of the region does not have enough scope for agriculture. While mining of sandstone and masonry stones is a source of income for the locals, the sector is also mired in administrative issues choking its growth.
Sanjay Sharma, who sells prasad and religious insignia at the entrance of the long temple corridor, said there was no special celebrations for the day.”It is a routine affair. Over 10,000 pilgrims from the district and outside visit the temple every day. It goes up to over a lakh during Navratri, and far more during the Chaitra fair (March-April),” said Sharma.
Despite housing the most popular destination in the region, Kailadevi town in Karauli district hardly has anything to show as development. It has mattered little that the constituency is represented by the state’s rural development and panchayati raj minister, Ramesh Chand Meena.
It is the temple trust that cleans the town’s roads. Littered roads, and mounds of garbage not being cleaned for days together are not uncommon as the trust keeps fighting with the panchayat samiti for funds and development programmes.
“So many people depend on the pilgrims for their livelihood. But there are no facilities that would draw more devotees and encourage them to spend more time in the town. Most of the pilgrims are from villages. High-spending pilgrims do not come here. Facilities such as good roads, parking, rest houses are all missing,” said a shop owner.
Congress leader Ramesh Chand Meena has won the Sapotra seat, reserved for STs, for three consecutive terms. Now, anti-incumbency sentiments have set in for him, said residents.
“We have been voting for Congress. But this time, we want a new face who can address our issues. Look at the roads, how bad they are. The area has been neglected in every parameter,” said Ram Laxman Meena from Atalpur.
While BJP is yet to announce its candidate for the seat, voters said they want an MLA who is accessible. “We want a leader we can meet and convince about our problems. Schools and healthcare facilities are in a pretty bad shape here. They need urgent attention,” said another resident.
The hilly terrain and semi-arid topography of the region does not have enough scope for agriculture. While mining of sandstone and masonry stones is a source of income for the locals, the sector is also mired in administrative issues choking its growth.
