By the way, I am not for Sale!!

Z. K. Pahru Pou *

Indian Rupee :: Pic Courtesy : wikipedia/Jovianeye

State Legislative Assembly Election is approaching and you may be accumulating money to buy my vote. Remember, my 'Vote' represents 'Me' and it is not good for you to buy me and my people in order to invest for profit.

Is it not equivalent to human trafficking? I want you to stop doing 'business' over my ignorant life.

It is possible to buy a cow with Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 20,000. It is possible to buy a pig with Rs. 20,000 or Rs. 30,000.

It is possible to buy a buffalo with Rs. 30,000 or Rs. 40,000. But I am not a pig, or cow or buffalo that you can buy.

I am priceless being. I am unique; the 'unique person' that you cannot find another 'me' in the whole world because there is 'no two' of me.

Despite my acute poverty, I do not want you to play with my life but what I need is respect as much as I respect you. Know that I am human being created in the image of God.

Therefore don't accumulate money to buy me during election. Giving money during election is not a 'help' at all. Rather it spoils my life and community.

It is also a waste of your wealth and destroys your very prestige and spiritual life. Election money is bringing 'confusion', 'disharmony' and 'death' to our family, village, church and society. People quarrel over this unjust money.

What benefit is it if a candidate gives Rs 10,000 to a family who has five voters during election? You are buying with Rs. 2000 per vote (divide Rs 10,000 by 5 votes). Divide that Rs 2,000 by five years (one election term), each person gets just Rs 400 (four hundred) per year. Divide that Rs. 400 by 12 months (one year), then each person gets Rs.34 per month.

What can I do with Rs. 34 per month? Think, how your hard-earned crores of rupees go into waste.

Please, do not spend your money in feeding me 'to die' with alcohol and meat. Do not treat me like pig that is fattened to butcher and sell for profit. Do not lure me with mobile hand set.

Please understand that acquiring free handset is easy but recharging and maintaining after election is sure to ruin my family's economy. Do not give money to me for I may spend it for partying or gambling or smoking or taking drugs. It may lead to immoral sexual activity, unwanted marriage or abortion.

Or it may lead to substance addiction subsequently leading to shortening of my life. If any one dies because of your money, then you are partly responsible for it. Do not try to become people's leader by unjust means. Humble yourself. Pray to God. If people do not like your leadership, stop it.

Do not use money, gun and muscle power and position to capture 'power'. Even if there is possibility of capturing power through using 'force', remember there is God who will judge you. You will die one day but will God live with your children and grandchildren.

If you do not have concern for others now, how God will take care of your descendants once you are gone? Be truthful. Don't destroy our people with money in your race to becoming a leader. I am not beggar. Do not offer me money. Do not spend your money for a cause that is 'good-for-nothing' for you and also for me.

If you want to become my leader, come let us talk now about the welfare of our community. All our roads are in pathetic condition. Why not spend your money to repair it rather than waiting to buy my vote? Many old people are struggling to live. Why not construct old aged home? Thousands of school drop outs are loitering aimlessly with frustration.

Why not start life skill institute for them in villages or blocks? Many villagers are facing acute poverty but in some village PDS rice (through NFSA) is sold at Rs. 650/- per bag (which is Rs. 13 per kg). Why did not you check this kind of corruption if you want to become people's leader?

Don't spend unnecessarily crores of rupees during election time. If you have concern for the welfare and development of the people, please do it now.

This article represents the voice of all voters because everyone is 'me'. My family members, immediate neighbours, villagers and all community members are all a part of me.

If one person is affected then everyone is affected much like the whole body feels pain with a small thorn in it. Please do not accumulate money or wealth to buy me for I AM NOT FOR SALE!!!

Know that all your possession, be it your knowledge, land, cars, or money, belongs to God. You came empty to this world. God gave you everything freely.

Don't use God's gifts to destroy peace, harmony and life. Use whatever you have to glorify God and for the betterment of humankind.