Chief Minister Hemant Soren has left for the ‘second Capital’ of Jharkhand. And he plans to deliver it a bonanza.
The increased four-Minister representation of Santhal Pargana in the Cabinet, and the Rs 100-crore schemes planned for its core, Dumka, are clear indications of the JMM concentrating on base camp for the upcoming polls.
Soren left for a two-day visit to Dumka on Tuesday evening, where he is expected to unveil a series of welfare programmes for the area comprising 18 Assembly and three lok Sabha seats.
“It is very clear that Santhal Pargana is JMM home turf and they want to build on this,” said a senior Congress functionary who has been given charge of one of the five State divisions for strengthening the party.
“Their single fear, if any, would be to lose their bastion to rival JVM. The party understands fully well that if Santhal Pargana cracks, the JMM will lose its edge,” he added.
In the 2009 elections, the JMM pocketed 10 of the 18 constituencies. The previous dispensation had two Ministers from Santhal Pargana — Soren and Shashank Shekhar Bhokta (Sarath).
Bhokta is Speaker now, but Simon Marandi (littipara), Haji Hussain Ansari (Madhupur) and RJD’s Suresh Paswan (Deoghar) have bolstered Santhal Pargana’s presence.
The strategy to keep their own house in order first is also part of a pre-alliance understanding between the party and Congress. “We have just one MlA from Santhal Pargana and don’t have much base there,” said Radha Krishna Kishore, who has been made Congress in-charge of Palamau.
“As the plan is for a long-term association and to fight the polls together, the Congress is not interfering much (with JMM in the region). We are focusing more on Palamau, Singhbhum, Gumla and Ranchi,” he pointed out.
The tribal-dominated JMM has been feeling the heat from Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. JVM is going all guns aggressively in the area and has organised several programmes.
“We have focused especially on Santhal Pargana. In the past four months, a massive tribal conclave at Dumka, several at littipara and many other programmes have been organised. The CM is keen to keep the frontier safe with populist announcements,” said JVM general secretary Praveen Singh.
JMM are also aware that making inroads in new areas would be a tough task. As some old companions of Shibu Soren — Simon Marandi, Ansari, Hemlal Murmu, Aquil Akthar, Nalin Soren and lobin Hembrum — have strong support bases here and belong to the region, the JMM plans to use this to its advantage.
Step towards food security
Though Parliament could not discuss the food security Bill on Tuesday, Jharkhand has started preparations to smooth out wrinkles in its implementation. Chief Secretary RS Sharma issued instructions for a clear plan to State departments during a meeting.
The CS stressed on the public distribution system. “Cost to be incurred for the scheme should be calculated in advance and a thorough plan for proper implementation prepared. It will ensure effective execution. For this, Jharkhand should study other States,” said Sharma. He also emphasised building storage godowns and the required workforce for this. BPl and APl beneficiaries living in rural and urban areas will be surveyed. Sharma instructed use of census data 2011 and socioeconomic caste survey.
Sharma sought setting up of a call centre and helpline and appointment of a nodal officer. He also wants the scheme to be Aadhaar-based for transparent functioning.
Food & Civil Supplies Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh has said 86.48 per cent of rural and 60.20 per cent of the urban population has to be covered under food security to encompass 80.16 per cent of Jharkhand’s total population.
Women would be given priority while distributing foodgrain and be treated as head of a family if over 18 years of age. Several Secretaries of other departments were also present at the meeting.