If there is a will, there is a way, goes the saying. However, this perfectly fits in with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who has conceived a way-out to remain connected with the mass of the people despite his failing health.
He is finding it difficult to get into the remote areas. But he, undaunted, opted for a way to listen to the common people’s grievances. It is through telephonic conversations in between 10 am to 1pm on Saturday. Most of the callers, who called to lodge complaints, got stunned when CM Rawat said “Mai Harish Rawat bolnu chhu” (This is Harish Rawat talking to you).
As they kept on stammering, the CM Rawat insisted that they must recount their grievances in full. Reassured, they vented out everything, troubling them long, straight from their hearts.
On Saturday, the CM interacted with people hailing from Pithoragarh, Tehri and Nainital districts as well as from some other far-flung areas. Most of them complained about Bijli Sadak and Pani (BSP meaning electricity, road and water). During the telephonic interaction, the CM is supposed to have solved a few problems.
He asked them to meet so-and-so officials at so-and-so places. Some complained that they are not getting houses as per Indira Awas scheme in their localities and a few sought financial assistance to pursue their sports dreams. In elated reciprocation, the people thanked him and wished his speedy recovery. While giving patient hearing to the common people, he felt pains.
However, he tried to keep the pain to himself, his face showed that he was feeling the stabs of pain, sources close to the CM said. During an informal interaction with the media persons, Rawat said some had complained about deplorable roads, failing electricity and scarce drinking water. A few of them sought financial assistance to meet medical expenses, he added.
He sounded hopeful that this new facility will help the people a great deal. “This would spare the people residing in inaccessible terrains from taking the pains to trudge all the way to the capital to have their grievances redressed,” he said.
Those stuck up in the far-flung areas can call up the CM between 10 am to 1 pm every Saturday on 0135-2750033. The problems are not just heard, but registered and directed to the officials concerned. The CM said this service has helped him get feedback regarding a host of development projects now being carried out in the State.