'Is this development?' Neglected Odisha village threatens poll boycott

After living on sufferance for years, the villagers’ pent-up anger may find an outlet this election as they are determined to boycott polls. 

Villagers collecting water from tube well

Development has been a mirage for the villagers of Bondal under the Tangi-Choudwar block of Cuttack district. 

Only 20 kilometres away from a town, Bondal village is inhabited by some 80 families. For the villagers, basic amenities are a distant dream, let alone the government schemes that seem to have made a detour to the village.