In Kanpur-Jalaun, people lament loss of jobs and work under MGNREGA that has gone down from 100 days to 46 

Om Prasad worked in a factory in Kanpur, which was shut down after demonetisation. It did open after a gap of six months but Prasad failed to retain job as his `malik’ decided to run the factory on depleted staff strength. Now he has opened a tea stall at Bhognipur. “Modi government came with the promise of giving us job but it took away mine, “ he reflects with a rueful smile.

“I was lucky because I had some savings which I could dip into to start this stall. But I do not know what has happened to others who lost their job. There were 29 more workers who were laid off along with me. Where are they, I sometimes wonder. I have no idea,” Om Prasad reflected.

On a drive through Kanpur and Jalaun, the stories one heard were similar. ‘Kaam Nahin Hai’ ( There is no work) was the refrain one heard from people.

The story is almost the same. Village after village and hamlet after hamlet people are complaining about lack of employment opportunity. They admit that some houses have got electric connections or some villagers have got colony (houses under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana) but rue loss of employment opportunities.

Bundelkhand comprising seven districts is one of the most backward regions of the country. Famous for its rugged region that once fostered dacoits is famous for exodus of people. People routinely leave villages to eke out a living. Earlier they would travel to nearby districts of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh or Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh to get jobs in factories or do menial work at construction sites. But for the past one year and more, these people have stayed back.

Dilip Sahu in Bhetwan village in Jalaun exclaimed that it seemed employment opportunities had dried up all of a sudden. “Patta nahi kya hua. Kahin koi kaam hee nahi hai. (( do not know what happened. There is no work anywhere),” he said and added: “Vote to usi ko denge jo kaam dega. Last time we voted for BJP and Modi. He has proved a job snatcher. This time the villagers will vote for a new party.”

It is not only industries where jobs have dried up. Employment opportunities have shrunk under MGNREGA as well. “We are getting just 14-20 days work under this scheme. How can we survive if we find work for just 20 days a year,” Atma Ram of village Mirazpur Sumahri said.

As per government records average day of employment (per household per year) was 46 in 2016-17 but came down to 45.69 in 2017-18 and to 41.57 in 2018-19.

The villagers are silent about whom they will vote. “We will vote for the party which will give us employment and work,” said Hari Om, a villager of the same village. “Leaders of different parties are visiting our village. They are talking about their programme. The village will decide as this region will go to polls in the fifth phase,” he said.