Punjab: AAP-backed 23-year-old migrant woman Neha Chaurasia has been elected unopposed as Sarpanch from Shankar Colony of Bhamian Khurd block of Sahnewal constituency. The High Court today is believed to have dismissed the writ petition filed by two of her opponents against the returning officer’s decision. Neha holds a D.P.Ed from Govind National College Narangwal and is a state-level hockey player. Born and brought up in Punjab, Neha has been involved in community service along with her panch maa Vidyawati Devi. Both mother and daughter have tried to create a green belt in their village as well as the surrounding areas.
Neha has worked as a traffic marshal during the Covid pandemic and through training has enabled many athletes to win gold medals for their institutions. The family hails from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh and it seems they have forgotten their ancestral region long ago as Neha says, “Now only Punjab is my home. I am very happy that I will now get a chance to serve my people in true sense.” “There is a mix of Himachali, Garhwal, Rajasthani and of course Punjabi voters here and it is a unique blend of unity in diversity. I and my family never felt uncomfortable while living here. People of my area not only supported me but also reposed faith in my abilities,” the young sarpanch said.
Similarly, another migrant and two-time sarpanch Mamta Devi from Ram Nagar panchayat in Bhamiyan Kalan block is contesting for the third time in a row. Mamta hails from Bihar and has been living in Punjab for the past 20 years with her husband, a factory worker. Her six rivals are from the same community. Daljit Kaur is the only candidate from the Jat Sikh community from the village. The stakes are very high for Mamta Devi as she has won the trust of the people through selfless service. “Punjab is the state that has taken us from poverty to riches. Whatever we are today is because of this prosperous state. Now is the chance to repay the debt of Punjab,” Mamta said. Another migrant woman Poonam Kumari is contesting from Tajpur Bet. Married to property dealer Santosh Kumar, Poonam has managed to strike a balance between home and political life with her two children. The family, which has been living in Punjab for the past 20 years, is content.
