ARA: Amid the sea of people at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Ara on Sunday, the large turnout of women in colourful attire stood out prominently. Many had come in groups, their enthusiasm matched by their willingness to voice both support and concern.“Providing 5kg of free ration is good, but the govt should increase the amount. We are poor and need more govt assistance to survive,” said Vimla Devi.

Standing nearby, Lalmuni Devi added, “Though the govt provides us five kg of free ration, we actually get only four kg because there is corruption at the local level by the dealer and some gram panchayat officials.” She said she still lives in a thatched house and hopes for a brick-built home.Soon, a group of five women joined in, animatedly expressing their support for chief minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Modi. “Hamse puchhiye na ji, Nitish-Modi to kaam bahut kiya hain… aapko nahi dikhta?” (Ask us – Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi have done a lot of work… can’t you see?), one of them said.Among the gathering were also groups of Muslim women, some accompanied by their children, who had come to see the Prime Minister in person. A young boy said innocently, “I had never seen Modi ji in person, so I have come to see him. I don’t know much about elections or politics.”Unmoved by the excitement around the rally venue, Vijay Kumar, a tea shop owner, was busy serving customers. “Though roads have been built by the govt in the state, the youth badly need employment opportunities. Bereft of jobs, they are falling prey to drug addiction or petty crime,” he said.Gopalji, a local trader, said, “There is a sense of security among traders in this regime. I alight at Ara railway station even after midnight and hire an auto for my home without any fear. But the govt should curb migration. I have sent my son to Delhi for study.”Md Shaukat Ali, selling apples on his pushcart, observed, “Though things improved very fast in the initial five years of the NDA govt in the state, it lost momentum later. Youth need more employment opportunities in Bihar.”