Himachal Pradesh voters seek curb on corruption

SHIMLA: Transparency in MGNREGA funds and development projects, along with corruption, are the three biggest issues for people in Himachal Pradesh ahead of elections to panchayati raj institutions in the state, according to an online survey.
The elections are to be held on Sunday. According to the survey, 82.9% people feel that transparency in spending MGNREGA funds and all other financial schemes at the grassroots level is a major election issue, while curbing corruption and promoting transparency in all kinds of development projects is one of the important issues for 76% people.
The survey was conducted from January 13 to 15 to understand what people think about key issues.Panchayat elections will be held on January 17, 19 and 21.
The survey comprised 537 respondents in 320 gram panchayats of 12 districts and was conducted by Baldev Singh Negi, project officer-cum-faculty, rural development in the department of interdisciplinary studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and Devender Sharma, an assistant professor of political science at Government College, Sanjauli.
The survey found maximum contestants included schemes like education, health, roads, electricity and structural development as election promises.
In their manifestoes, contestants tried to attract youth and senior citizens. For youth, contestants promised playgrounds and gyms.