Jharkhand making concerted bid to develop villages: CM

Ranchi, Dec 13: Jharkhand government is making a coordinated effort in developing villages through initiatives like providing transport, drinking water, teachers, doctors, security and improvement of economic condition of the women, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said today.

"The government is starting bus services in villages in the next three/four months. Highway patrolling will also begin," Das said, during his visit to Badkumbha village in the district.

Listening to problems of the women and taking their suggestions to develop villages, Das said school going children would not have to sit on the floor any more as benches and desks were being distributed. Teachers would be there in schools and doctors in hospitals, an official release said quoting Das.

He asked the villagers to identify spots of their choice to dig pond and construct check dams. Camps would be set up in block offices or any other spot near to the village for distribution of ration cards for financially weaker families, he said.

Stating that women have a significant role in village development, he called upon them to join the development process and make efforts in eradicating whatever "improper practices" were prevalent in villages, the release said.

"The government is making efforts to strengthen women committees," he said and asked the village women committee to submit a list of families identifying weak financial situation by January 15 so that they could be given two cows for rearing and raising their economic condition.

Observing that women who sell 'hadia' (rice beer) do it under compulsion for subsistence, Das said the government would impart training to such women and make them employable, which would help them give up the trade. The chief minister informed the government's recent decision about giving Rs one lakh to the village that goes dry.

The women said they would embark upon the mission soon. A group of youth informed Das that some 'brokers' were selling tribal land illegally.

PTI