Given false assurances for the past 15 years that they can continue to live in government quarters in reply to their pleas of sanctioned residences, 29 families living on Government land near Ratu Road have now been given an ultimatum to leave.
“Families living in these Government quarters have been here for the past three or four generations. Moreover, we have been running from pillar to post for the last 15 years to get houses of our own, but requests for houses of our own have been fended off with promises that our present homes will not be taken from us. Now we are being forced to vacate our homes,” stated Guriya Devi during CM Janta Darbar on Wednesday.
Structures on the land in question are now to be demolished for constructing multi-storey buildings to accommodate Government employees. But rehabilitation of the families already living there seems to elude everyone’s minds.
“This is our second visit to the Janta Darbar and we have already met Urban Development Minister CP Singh countless times. Every time we have been assured of a solution to our problems, but these promises ring hollow. We work as domestic help to make ends meet; missing work will only add to our problems,” said Katika Devi, one of the delegates who came to the public court.
listening to their grievances at the Janta Darbar, labour Minister Raj Paliwar and Water Resources Minister Chandra Prakash Choudhary assured that their housing problems will be taken care of shortly.
Resumed after a two month break due to Budget Session in Jharkhand Assembly, the public court of state cabinet ministers saw crowds once again. A total of 82 plaintiffs turned up to seek redressal in grievances pertaining mostly to land and family disputes along with discrepancies in government system, hindrances in public welfare projects along with others.
Among the complainants was Jayanti Clara Beck, a victim of financial fraud now hard-pressed to keep up with the medical expenses of her hospitalised mother. Criminals withdrew Rs11 lakhs from the bank account of Paulus Beck, Jayanti’ retired father, by swapping ATM cards when her brother Anees had gone to withdraw some money on February 13.
Although the culprits were arrested later, the money has not been recovered yet. Meanwhile, her mother Noberta Beck had to be admitted to Seva Sadan Hospital due to high blood pressure and sugar levels. A Homeguard personnel by profession, Jayanti is coming short of funds to continue with her mother’s treatment.
“The Ministers have assured that half of the expenses will be waived off,” informed Jayanti after talking to Paliwar and Choudhary.
In reply to complaint about staff at private ITIs in Jharkhand not getting satisfactory wages, Paliwar stated, “I have asked deputy commissioners all over the State to submit reports about salaries paid by all 203 private ITIs to ascertain whether they abide by the related norms laid down by Union and State governments or not. Some have even submitted their reports while others have been instructed to pick up the pace.”