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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Saranda’s new beginning by Animesh Bisoee

Saranda’s new beginning by Animesh Bisoee

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published Published on Dec 2, 2011   modified Modified on Dec 2, 2011

Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh admitted lapses of the past but spoke of a new beginning today in Saranda while unveiling an action plan for the forest region that was under the shadow of Maoist terror for over a decade.

Armed with goodies like bicycles and transistor radios for residents of Chotanagra panchayat, about 120km from district headquarters of Chaibasa, Ramesh made it clear that the implementation of the development plan would be keenly monitored by the Centre so that it could be a model for other forest regions that had turned rebel hubs in Jharkhand (Santhal Pargana) and states like Chattisgarh, Odisha, Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

“I will make it a point to visit Jharkhand frequently. The Union rural development ministry will be working in tandem with its state counterpart in Saranda. I have assured the chief minister that finance will not be a constraint. I want visible changes at the earliest. This is a crucial project and the blueprint will be replicated in other states,” he told The Telegraph on the sidelines of a janta darbar that had been organised by the state and West Singhbhum district administration.

With chief minister Arjun Munda and two deputies by his side, Ramesh told a crowd of over 3,000 people that the Centre’s Saranda action plan would be implemented in all 56 villages in six gram panchayats within the forest area, accounting for over 36,000 people.

“I admit that in the last 50 years, the development of Adivasis has not been up to expectations with several problems like displacement, exploitation of tribals and the state’s mining resources,” the minister, clad in his trademark white kurta and a blue waist coat, said.

“Par aaj ek nai shuruwat hai. Aman, shanti aur vikas ke raaste mein sath chalne ka (But today is a new beginning. Let us walk together on the road of peace, harmony, and development),” he said.

Ramesh said the state government would execute the action plan to show that it was sensitive to the problems of tribal dwelling in the forest area. “Our efforts have already started paying dividend as after 11 years, the Indian Tricolour was unfurled in Saranda showing that Maoist influence has been scuttled, if not completely curbed,” he said.

It was through strengthening the political and democratic set up that one could usher in sustainable development and get rid of Maoists, he emphasised.

Munda, Soren and Sudesh Mahto also addressed the gathering after which around 200 solar lanterns, 158 tube wells, 100 bicycles, six tricycles, 200 transistors, 60 blankets and 10 tube well repairing kits were distributed among villagers.

Five persons were given land pattas in a symbolic gesture and six couples were named beneficiaries of Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojana. A tri-monthly magazine, Tarang, was also launched by the West Singhbhum administration.

Employment certificates under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) were handed over to 54 additional rozgar sevaks, while appointment letters were given to four sevikas and sahayikas.

Later, speaking to The Telegraph, Ramesh elaborated on the Centre’s plan for Saranda. The focus was on roads, under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, creating jobs for villagers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

“We will be constructing 13 rural roads, 140km in length in all, in the next two years. This apart, we will be constructing bridges and providing sources of drinking water (tube wells) and jobs to rural populace,” he said.

As a special incentive, the Centre had agreed to pay MGNREGS wages in Saranda directly to villagers by cash against the usual practice of using banks and post offices.

“Usually under MGNREGS projects, payment is made through banks and post offices, but in case of Saranda we have arranged for weekly payments (on Fridays in view of Saturday’s haat) in cash. I am happy that within a month around 2,500 rural people have got jobs under MGNREGS,” he said.

The Centre will also implement schemes in electricity, high-yielding agricultural methods and health in the forest area, apart from ensuring regular distribution of forest right pattas to the dwellers.

During his trip to Chaibasa by an Augusta 109 helicopter, the Union minister was accompanied by Munda and his two deputies. They landed at a temporary helipad near a CRPF camp around 11.45am, barely 300 metres away from Panchayat Bhavan where today’s function was held.

State water resources secretary Santosh Kumar Satpathy, rural development secretary R.S. Poddar, CRPF IG (operations) D.K. Pandey and IG (Ranchi) Rezi Dungdung arrived 10 minutes earlier on a military chopper.

The Telegraph, 3 December, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111203/jsp/frontpage/story_14833499.jsp


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