Tashigang (Himachal Pradesh) Nestled in the snowy Himalayas at an altitude of 15,256 feet, this small village, home to the world's highest polling booth with just 62 voters, tells a story of survival amidst the adverse conditions of climate change and human uncertainties. Is.
As Tashigang and neighboring Gete prepare to vote on Saturday in the last phase of the seven-phase elections, the demand for jobs and livelihoods amid dwindling profits in the agriculture sector, water and roads is coming to the fore in the desolate, rugged landscape. Echoing with noise.
For example, Kalzang Dolma said she was struggling to pay her daughter's school fees after losing her job at the state public welfare department, which earned her a "good" salary of Rs 13,000 per month. Was available. Her family of six has returned to farming, which was their primary source of income, until Dolma joined the PWD's ROA construction team as a contract worker. They mainly grow peas But that's barely enough to survive."Pea production has dropped from 100 bags a decade ago to 20-25 bags now. As a result, we buy less ration and consume less," Dolma said.
Since there is no school near Tashigang, his five-year-old daughter studies in a boarding school in Kaza, the headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti district, about 30 kilometers away. "I lost my job and Farming declined, we could barely pay our daughter's school fees this year."
She is not the only one who has lost her job.Like him, many other people working on contract are facing uncertainty and have demanded the government to give them permanent jobs. He said that agriculture is no longer viable.
Water scarcity in Tashigang, which has been in the record books as the world's highest polling station since 2019, has made farming more difficult. Tashigang is part of the Spiti Valley, which lies in the rain shadow region, so here There is little or no rain. People depend on glaciers and snowfall for water.However, glaciers are retreating rapidly, and snowfall has been decreasing over the past few years, which experts say is a direct result of climate change.
Located near the India-China border, Spiti Valley is part of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, one of the four parliamentary constituencies of Himachal Pradesh and the second largest parliamentary constituency in India. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is contesting against Congress's Vikramaditya Singh on this seat.
The polling station at Tashigang, serving 62 voters of Tashigang and Gete, has been made a model polling station. According to Guman Singh of NGO Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, water is available for irrigation and domestic needs in high altitude villages like Tashigang and Gete. The Karane waterfalls and ponds are drying up rapidly due to rising temperatures and inadequate snowfall.
The only source of rainfall and snowfall in this region is Western Disturbance (WD), a low pressure system coming from the Mediterranean region.“The frequency of WDs has reduced, and people are reporting that snowfall has shifted to the latter half of winter, which is too late for agriculture,” said Madhavan Rajeevan, former secretary of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. The climate is taking a toll on the families in these villages, who have very few livelihood options.
Caring for his yak, Tanzin Takpa, 54, said residents of Tashigang's neighboring villages grow only green peas and barley during the summer months, when temperatures range from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Winters are harsh and inhospitable, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius. The hills are buried in snow, and the only dirt road connecting Tashigang to Kaza is closed, confining families to mud and brick houses for six months.Takpa, whose son worked with the road construction team of the Public Works Department, said the regular job would provide him with a steady income throughout the year.
With their demand for regularization of their jobs falling on deaf ears, Takpa Sai families in Tashigang had decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections.
However, some politicians came and said that they could help only if the village residents voted during the June 1 elections. "They all say that if they win they will provide us with water and permanent jobs. We have What are the alternatives? We all have decided to vote with the hope that your demands for water for irrigation and employment will be met," said Kunchok Choden, 23.The resonance of the stories is widespread.
Kaljang Namgyal, 40, of Gete village, which has a total population of around 30, said residents face major challenges due to lack of a proper road. The road was built about 25-30 years ago. A metalled road can bring tourists here which will give us another livelihood option."
Asked if there was any main competitor, he laughed and said, “Sixty-two is a very small number for them.,
Residents depend on the springs to supply water for domestic and agricultural needs. Since snowfall is less and occurring late, he said, the waterfalls are not able to recharge adequately. People like Tanzin Tumdan, 60, of Tashigang, also opened a homestay, but could hardly do so due to lack of road. A tourist stays for one night in the village.Will the elections really change things for them? The villagers certainly hope so
As Tashigang and neighboring Gete prepare to vote on Saturday in the last phase of the seven-phase elections, the demand for jobs and livelihoods amid dwindling profits in the agriculture sector, water and roads is coming to the fore in the desolate, rugged landscape. Echoing with noise.
For example, Kalzang Dolma said she was struggling to pay her daughter's school fees after losing her job at the state public welfare department, which earned her a "good" salary of Rs 13,000 per month. Was available. Her family of six has returned to farming, which was their primary source of income, until Dolma joined the PWD's ROA construction team as a contract worker. They mainly grow peas But that's barely enough to survive."Pea production has dropped from 100 bags a decade ago to 20-25 bags now. As a result, we buy less ration and consume less," Dolma said.
Since there is no school near Tashigang, his five-year-old daughter studies in a boarding school in Kaza, the headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti district, about 30 kilometers away. "I lost my job and Farming declined, we could barely pay our daughter's school fees this year."
She is not the only one who has lost her job.Like him, many other people working on contract are facing uncertainty and have demanded the government to give them permanent jobs. He said that agriculture is no longer viable.
Water scarcity in Tashigang, which has been in the record books as the world's highest polling station since 2019, has made farming more difficult. Tashigang is part of the Spiti Valley, which lies in the rain shadow region, so here There is little or no rain. People depend on glaciers and snowfall for water.However, glaciers are retreating rapidly, and snowfall has been decreasing over the past few years, which experts say is a direct result of climate change.
Located near the India-China border, Spiti Valley is part of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, one of the four parliamentary constituencies of Himachal Pradesh and the second largest parliamentary constituency in India. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is contesting against Congress's Vikramaditya Singh on this seat.
The polling station at Tashigang, serving 62 voters of Tashigang and Gete, has been made a model polling station. According to Guman Singh of NGO Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, water is available for irrigation and domestic needs in high altitude villages like Tashigang and Gete. The Karane waterfalls and ponds are drying up rapidly due to rising temperatures and inadequate snowfall.
The only source of rainfall and snowfall in this region is Western Disturbance (WD), a low pressure system coming from the Mediterranean region.“The frequency of WDs has reduced, and people are reporting that snowfall has shifted to the latter half of winter, which is too late for agriculture,” said Madhavan Rajeevan, former secretary of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. The climate is taking a toll on the families in these villages, who have very few livelihood options.
Caring for his yak, Tanzin Takpa, 54, said residents of Tashigang's neighboring villages grow only green peas and barley during the summer months, when temperatures range from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Winters are harsh and inhospitable, with temperatures dropping as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius. The hills are buried in snow, and the only dirt road connecting Tashigang to Kaza is closed, confining families to mud and brick houses for six months.Takpa, whose son worked with the road construction team of the Public Works Department, said the regular job would provide him with a steady income throughout the year.
With their demand for regularization of their jobs falling on deaf ears, Takpa Sai families in Tashigang had decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections.
However, some politicians came and said that they could help only if the village residents voted during the June 1 elections. "They all say that if they win they will provide us with water and permanent jobs. We have What are the alternatives? We all have decided to vote with the hope that your demands for water for irrigation and employment will be met," said Kunchok Choden, 23.The resonance of the stories is widespread.
Kaljang Namgyal, 40, of Gete village, which has a total population of around 30, said residents face major challenges due to lack of a proper road. The road was built about 25-30 years ago. A metalled road can bring tourists here which will give us another livelihood option."
Asked if there was any main competitor, he laughed and said, “Sixty-two is a very small number for them.,
Residents depend on the springs to supply water for domestic and agricultural needs. Since snowfall is less and occurring late, he said, the waterfalls are not able to recharge adequately. People like Tanzin Tumdan, 60, of Tashigang, also opened a homestay, but could hardly do so due to lack of road. A tourist stays for one night in the village.Will the elections really change things for them? The villagers certainly hope so
