Voices of Gujarat: ‘Farmers Are Ruined’, ‘Govt Gets 0 Out of 100’

From alcohol to farmer issues, these 5 voters talk about what will define their vote in the Gujarat elections.

(Photo: The Quint)

A 42-year-old farmer, a social worker, a sports shop owner and more – watch these people from Gujarat talk about what will define their vote this election.

Till Now, I Voted For BJP. But Now, We’ll Support Cong: 42-Year-Old Farmer

According to 42-year-old farmer Rajeshbhai from Mehsana, the farmers did not suffer during the rule of the Congress, but troubles cropped up after the present government came to power.

We faced a shortage of money during note ban. We don’t get the desired rate for our produce and can’t pay our bills. Farmers are breaking down. How will the country run?

He clearly states that this time around, his vote would shift from the BJP to the Congress.

The Current Government Gets 0 Marks Out of 100: Social Worker

Hailing from Gujarat’s Morbi, 29-year-old social worker Nirmit Kakkar has multiple issues to talk about pertaining to his district – illegal liquor sale, lack of adequate staff in hospitals, crime and traffic.

He even goes on to say that the pollution in Morbi is second only to Delhi.

Despite Gujarat having prohibition in place, liquor is easily available here. It’s difficult for people to get treatment in government hospitals. They are forced to go to private hospitals, where the costs are high.

Kakkar indicates that his vote would not be for the ruling government, asserting that he would give it zero marks out of 100 considering the various issues he talks about.

GST and Note Ban Were Good Measures: 46-Year-Old From Ahmedabad

Forty-six-year-old Bela Shah, working as a guide at a blind people’s association in Ahmedabad, says that the development work carried out in Gujarat and the rest of the country has been impressive. She praises the government for announcing note ban as well as GST, explaining how the former, despite inflicting some inconvenience on the public, ultimately led to black money being exposed.

Notably, in September, the RBI had informed a parliamentary panel that it had “no information” regarding the amount of black money that had been exposed owing to demonetisation.

Shah lauds the government for its efforts in combating terrorism emanating from other countries.

GST Has Made my Business Come Down by 90%: 66-Year-Old Sports Shop Owner

Sixty-six-year-old Bharatbhai Maheshwari runs a sports shop in Ahmedabad, and says that the implementation of GST has made his business go down by as much as 90 percent.

The trader community in Gujarat is not happy. Only 10 percent of the customers come, as compared to earlier. They have made such a complex tax system.

Maheshwari is of the view that the GST is making more and more customers switch to online shopping, which, he says, has already ruined shops such as his.

Expressing his cluelessness in the current context, he says:

I don’t even know how to operate a computer. I don’t have a mobile. How will I adjust?

Click here to listen to more such voices from Gujarat.

(Voices of Gujarat: Tired of listening to netas make promises? As Gujarat goes to polls, The Quint wants to listen to the real voices of Gujarat – the voters. Tell us what issues matter to you this election season. Send in your videos to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])