Residents of Karamtoli were in a state of disbelief when Chief Minister Raghubar Das made a surprise visit to the locality soon after taking oath of office on Sunday, however, a day after the residents of the area realised the importance of the stopover and most importantly the significance of Das’ actions.
The new CM took up broom to clean garbage spread at some places. Das not only cleaned garbage but also urged the residents to practice cleanliness. He was joined by Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Ranchi Municipal Corporation besides party workers. “No CM had ever come to our area. He (Das) came and talked to us and that is a big thing for us. When we saw him taking up broom to clean garbage spread around our houses we felt ashamed for a moment and then we decided to practice what he preached,” said Asha Khalho of Akhra in Karamtoli.
Cleanliness in the locality dominated mostly by poor and lower middle class population is the business of the residents and the RMC’s services appear to be non-existent. lack of dustbins in Akhra and in the interiors of Karamtoli speaks of the indifference of the civic body and defies the call for ‘swachcch bharat’.
“We clean the area and usually burn the garbage collected. And that which cannot be burned is dumped far away,” added Khalkho. The head of the BJP-AJSU coalition Government spent about 30-minutes in Akhra and ventured into narrow lanes of the locality to meet people especially elders in need of support of the State for sustenance. Das was flabbergasted at the poor coverage of old-age pension scheme as he interacted with some elders in need of the monetary assistance usually provided by the State.
The CM directed officials to prepare a report on the beneficiaries of the scheme for poor people in the age group considered to be in need of compassion. “I don’t get pension despite my physical inabilities to earn for a living. I had applied for pension around two years back but there is no response and I have left any hope of getting,” said Saraswati Devi of Akhra.
Stunned at the institutional apathy, Das reprimanded Deputy Mayor and ward councilor. However, the problem is different than just a case of negligence. There are about 250 families belonging to below-poverty-line but the list has not been updated from a long time. Moreover, the lack of concern for elders is also fallout of missing coordination between district administration and the urban civic body which shortlists a beneficiary in each ward. But with the Cabinet’s meeting of Sunday head of the elected representatives has vowed to address the matter in a more practical manner.
“Now the criteria have been changed we will look into the matter from the criteria laid (by the Government) has specified. However, I would not put a time cap on when the job will be done but we will do it as early as possible. Earlier people belonging to BPl category were the beneficiaries of the scheme and that list is usually provided by the district administration,” said Mayor RMC, Asha lakra.
Meanwhile, State Cabinet has reviewed the criteria for a beneficiary making widows, elder people of all community and tribal eligible for the benefits for social security pension scheme.