Waiting for their turn at the daily labourers’ market in Bhubaneswar. File picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 12: People who make your daily life easier have all gone missing from the capital city, thanks to the upcoming panchayat polls.

Most of the capital’s domestic helps and construction labourers have gone on a weeklong vacation to their villages. They will be casting their votes in the panchayat elections in their respective villages.

Their absence has forced their employers to do all the domestic chores by themselves. It has also brought construction activity in the capital to a halt. The city’s labour force will be back only after the panchayat polls come to an end on February 19.

While the absence of domestic helps is being felt by one and all, the shortage of labour force is being noticed especially in the capital’s four major labour markets — Indradhanu Market, Nayapalli, Kalpana Square, Baramunda and Vani Vihar.

Many of these domestic helps and labourers were lured by the political parties which wanted them to be in their villages at the time of voting. In many cases, their transport expenses were allegedly paid for by the parties or individual candidates.

Ruma Nayak, 53, a native of G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal district said: “The political parties have arranged buses for taking people to their respecting villages to vote in the panchayat elections. Besides, I will get Rs 100 if I go to the village to participate in the election.”

Ruma has been in the city for the last 20 years and goes to the village to cast her vote whenever elections come knocking. Like Ruma, Urmila Hansda also receives benefits from political parties during the elections.

“If I go to my village near Rairangapur in Mayurbhanj, I will have to pay Rs 240. However, the money is now saved as the leaders of my area take care of the fare and other things. I don’t want to miss the opportunity. It serves both the purpose of visiting the village and participating in the election process,” said Hansda.

Ruma and Urmila are the part of the strong labour forces that live in 377 slums of the city. Now their slums are being regularly visited by leaders and agents of various political parties.

City residents who depend on these domestic helps and labourers have also come to terms with their absence during elections.

Mitali Pradahan, 36, a school teacher, said: “The maid has left and will come back only after the panchayat poll is over. Till then we have to manage all household works on our own.”

Ongoing constructions have also been badly affected because of this temporary migration of the work force. But political parties and leaders are reaping the benefits. The labour force, once back in the villages, also canvasses for the candidates with enthusiasm, apart from voting on the D-day.

The labourers, too, enjoy their temporary vacation thoroughly. While campaigning, they partake of the feasts organised by the candidates, the staple menu on such occasions being rice, dalma and khata or chutney.