Where issue related to basic infrastructure in place is fading, where tar coal evaporates faster than markings painted on roads and where gun speaks louder than anything, development is making its way through strongly.
People of latehar under Chatra parliamentary constituency, one of the most dreaded Naxal den, not only in Jharkhand but also in the country, has started prioritising goods of Sarju Development Plan, better roads, connecting bridges and last but not the least electricity supply over the others.
“Sarju plan has been an achievement for this reason. The kind of roads, small bridges, Birsa Awas, Indira Awas and MNREGA works have come to fore, it is unforeseen. Road connecting latehar to Garu-Mahuadard was earlier 200 kilometers long but the distance has now come down around 100 kilometers due to a link road which was pending since long,” said Sachidanand Pandey, a local social activist and also district vice-president of the Congress.
People say the plan has toed related activities into the area which pulled brake on distressed migration and also reined free-run Naxal activities a bit.
“Every here and there you can see police pickets. lots of works have come through job guarantee scheme. Since, the area has been connected through Hatia grid, we are getting near uninterrupted power supply. Now people have tasted the chunks of development and want this to continue,” says Manik Singh of latehar. Nevertheless there is still a large hinterland off the National Highway-75 connecting Ranchi-Daltonganj where ray of new dawn is yet to be reached.
“Polls are there but wires often develop snags. lot more work on road sectors is still to be done. But one thing is for sure that those who were ruling the area unabated have been forced to decamp,” articulates Manohar Majhi of Garu.
The positives have been claimed by the Congressmen. The Sarju Development Plan is considered a brainchild of Union Rural Minister Jairam Ramesh while taking Hatia power grid up to Garhwa through latehar and Palamu by “Rajendra Singh”, Minster in the Hemant Soren-led Government with energy portfolio. “This is the achievement of the Congress and we are making the voters understand through our campaign for Dhreej Sahu,” added Pandey. Sahu, also banking on considerable Vaisya voters in Chatra lok Sabha constituency, is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP.
When contacted Sahu admitted about development plank but tried to bring home his point by projecting him as a coalition candidate. “last time we did not have alliance with the RJD even then the Congress stood second. Our coalition Government has done good work and it will benefit me,” he told The Pioneer over phone.
Opponents like the BJP and JVM are also stressing on development and underline whatsoever change has come on ground driven by Sarju Development Plan.
“There is no doubt that face of the area is changing. There is not the kind of fear factor which was prevailing earlier. Situation of electricity, road and other basic facilities has improved,” says Durga Prasad Gupta, a local BJP leader with a rider. “It was because people wanted this. Also Baidyanath Ram is our MlA from the area.”
When comes to sheer politics, the BJP is riding on what is being played out as ‘Modi wave’ as its candidate Sunil Singh is new “but an organisation man with cadre support.”
“People of Chatra like others are looking at Modi who have won hearts through development. Also the BJP is a cadre based party. Sunil Singh was new but slowly the sense is getting over as polling nears. He is also getting support of Bidesh Singh (Panki MlA),” said Gupta.
JVM’s Neelam Devi is also a novice in politics and banking on Babulal Marandi’s face. “People know that the 28-month governance under Marandiji was the best in terms of development. They have example of Sarju and belief that change can come here as well. People would vote to the JVM on this only,” said Sikeshwar Ram, Manika block pramukh.
No doubt that Chatra is still to cross a hill in terms of human trafficking, migration to cities like Delhi, Punjab, Bangalore, Kerala and joblessness but it seems that it has taken a stride to swing away from its nadir.