‘Got everything, now our turn to give back’: Voices from an EWS high-rise in Capital

One of these voters is 45-year-old Vijay Kumar Gupta, a tailor, who said that everyone in his locality is excited to vote. As for him, he was clear about the party he was going to vote for. “Modi ji got us these flats. We were living in slums till 2022 and now we have our own home in a high-rise,” said Gupta while sitting in the e-rickshaw.

Anita Devi, 38, said she has got everything she wanted in the form of the house and that now it was her turn “to do something for this country”. Haling from West Bengal, Anita had been living in the slums till 2022. “We want development for our country and nothing for ourselves,” she said.

To assist in polling, a large area inside the society was taken over by different political party volunteers assisting residents in finding their name in the voting list. However, many voters complained that due to a change in the address, it was difficult to find their names in the list.

Despite the e-rickshaws, 70-year-old Shakuntala Devi said she went out to vote on her own because “she did not want to take any help from anyone”. Shakuntala lives on the 14th floor of the EWS society and complains about water and lift issues. “I have voted for change. We need a government who can think about “gareeb janta…”

According to the residents of this society, around 1,800 families have occupied flats on the premises while the rest are still vacant.