For decades, the lack of opportunity for women has been a bottleneck in the process of development in Saranda, connecting Jharkhand with West Bengal, Orissa and other places in eastern India. However, the daily ordeal of its women is likely to end as Public Distribution System(PDS) licences will be issued to their Self-Help Group soon.
“The process to provide licenses to woman SHGs in Saranda has already started,” states a report prepared by the State Government run by the BJP Government led by Chief Minister Raghubar Das and Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba.
Saranda had begun to develop since July-August 2011 when the CRPF and the State police jointly “liberated” this forest rich area of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand from 11 years of Maoist control and domination.
This was facilitated by the then Union Rural Development Minister Jai Ram Ramesh who helped initiate discussions with the State Government on how best to consolidate on the success achieved by the CPRF and launched development activities there.
In October 2011, the Saranda Development Plan(SDP) was prepared by the district administration covering 56 villages in six gram panchayats of Manoharpur block. The population covered is around 36,000 (7,000 households).
Over the years, while many Maoists were cought, many of their supporters were compelled to migrate and surrender, CRPF set up its camps and the state government, in league with the Union Rural Development Ministry, launched development schemes under SDP. To implement the plan, Divisional Commissioner, Kolhan Division encompassing Saranda, was made nodal officer responsible for coordination of the SDP.
Now, a report prepared by the State Government reveals that under the supervision of the Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Divisional Commissioner, Kolhan, has been holding weekly review meetings and, during the past fortnight, two meetings were already held. ResultIJ
1. As many as 10 PDS licenses were being issued to Women SHGs.
2. The move was launched to tag villages with the existing licenses and corrected irregularities depending upon the distances.
3. Steps to include the left out households to include in the BPl beneficiaries initiated.
4. Decision was taken to tie up Integrated Child Development Services(ICDS)supplies with door-step delivery of subsidized food, quickly and regularly.
5. Jharkhand Government’s Welfare Department is out to re construct the building of its residential school at Thalkobad and restart it there as against Manoharpur at the moment.
6. One doctor-Dr Kanhaiya lal,Public Health Centre,Jaraikela, deputed at Digha.