A four-day “Swaraj Padyatra” based on the protection of the five Ps - mountains, water, plants, Panchayati Raj and profession law was started from Ulihatu, Khunti, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda under the aegis of the Jharkhand state unit of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organization on Wednesday.
The Yatra began with the garlanding of the statue of Birsa Munda at the birthplace of Lord Birsa Munda and meeting Birsa Munda's descendants Sukhram Munda, Karan Pahan, Jetha Munda and Mukhiya Amar Munda, Vardan Munda, Gram Pradhan Nelson Purti. In this padayatra, mainly Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh, Bandhu Tirkey, Ravindra Singh, Satish Paul Mujni, Gajendra Singh, Rakesh Kiran Mahato, Shantanu Mishra, Panchayati Raj Organization Convenor Sumit Sharma, Ravi Mishra, Ramkrishna Chaudhary, Wilson, Anjani Ranjan, Naresh Tirkey, Subhash Nag, Bharat Jodo Yatri Anamika Sarkar, Anupriya Soy, Laxman Hansda, Anand Sinku participated.
In the Swaraj padayatra program, State President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh said that in the data of the Forest Department, 29 per cent of the total area of Jharkhand has been shown as forest area. Whereas the reality is that forests are left on about 20% of the land. The remaining land is barren land. The BJP government sitting in the centre amended the Forest Rights Act. After the formation of Jharkhand state, BJP ruled for 18 years. The National Forest Policy 1988 states that 33% of the total area should be forest covered area. It is clear from the formation of Jharkhand state and its name that the state is a forest covered state.
Despite this, forests are being cut continuously. Through this padyatra, people have to be made aware that people should plant new trees and the state government should also plant new trees. The Forest Rights Act 2006 gives the right to common citizens that they can earn their livelihood from the forests of their area. When there is no forest left in the state, then the lives of tribals and natives dependent on forests are bound to be in danger and today forests are being destroyed in this state due to mining and illegal cutting. This yatra will also create public awareness in the areas through which it will pass to save forests, plant trees and conserve rivers and mountains.
Drinking water has been a big problem in Jharkhand. There are no big rivers in our state. Ground water of rivers is being exploited through Jal Jeevan Mission but arrangements have to be made for its conservation. The government will also make arrangements for that. Full implementation of PESA Act 1996 in the state through Panchayati Raj Act. People's representatives of Panchayati Raj should get the rights of 29 departments given by 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment.
Addressing the Padyatra program, Bandhu Tirkey said that the provisions of Raghubar government which prevent a person who has three children after 9 February 2013 from contesting elections is a violation of the right to representation. Panchayati Raj Organization opposes the fact that it is wrong to prevent any person from contesting elections on the basis of their children or on the basis of his age limit. Through this yatra, we will try to create an ideological construct by drawing the attention of the public to the above main points. This Swaraj Padyatra program was presided over by Sumit Sharma, state convener of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organization.
