Jhansi: A day after his weeklong tour of Bundelkhand to educate people on following Covid safety protocol and importance of vaccination, vice chairman of Bundelkhand Development Board and famous actor Raja Bundela said on Thursday that misleading statements of the leaders of opposition parties as well as the superstitious beliefs of villagers are hampering the mass vaccination drive in the rural belt of Bundelkhand.
He also said that in order to kickstart development in the region, “Bundelkhand should be made a separate state”.
Talking exclusively to TOI in Jhansi, Bundela viewed that during his weeklong tour in which he travelled extensively across seven districts of Bundelkhand, he and his team members observed that the major reasons behind vaccine hesitancy are lack of exposure and awareness, spread of disinformation through social media and irresponsible statements by leaders of opposition parties.
Hence, a majority of the population of Bundelkhand is reluctant to get the jab despite understanding the severity of the disease.
In fact, in certain villages, not even a single person has come forward to get vaccinated.
In addition, people are not ready to follow the Covid safety protocols, added Bundela.
He further stated that despite lots of developmental schemes launched by several parties for decades, Bundelkhand still remains backward.
“The only way to develop the region is to carve out Bundelkhand as a separate state, having districts both from UP and MP which have possess the essence of Bundeli culture,” said Bundela.
“Once it becomes a separate state, the development will pace up, as the region boasts of a rich source of natural minerals and tourist places of historical importance.
There are also opportunities of industrial development as the works of defence corridor and a network of highways have begun,” said the vice chairman.