Governor Syed Ahmed proposed visit to Palamau did not materialise on Friday, but that did not stop him from taking the tech route to the district. As inclement weather played spoiler, Ahmed inaugurated three projects and laid foundation stones for eight others, all online.
Palamau got projects worth Rs 111 crore on a day when the Governor recollected its golden history and contribution to the freedom struggle.
He spoke of a better and more sensitive administration — “Officials and police must hear the poor and find solutions to their problems. Every official must discharge his duties seriously” — even as Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar made all-out efforts to ensure the words reached the people.
What could have been a total washout turned into a novelty. Daltonganj Congress MlA N Tripathy and the DC worked in tandem with Raj Bhavan to make certain that the Palamau administration’s hard work did not go in vain.
In the absence of any outdoor broadcasting (OB) van, the Governor’s speech in Ranchi was taken live on Kumar’s mobile phone, with the speaker on and a microphone transmitting it loud and clear to the people.
Ahmed spoke in Hindi on a variety of issues, including civic problems and Government schemes.
While asking officials to ensure law & order, he told the people that violence was never the solution to any problem. He appealed to the people and educational institutions to lend a helping hand in this. The Governor made special mention of the fact that lodging of immediate FIR was a must for the police.
He sought water harvesting measures to control the decreasing water table in the area and directed officials to get all hand-pumps repaired, an emotive issue in the rural parts of Palamau.
Ahmed emphasised on the need to ensure that benefits of the public distribution system, Annapurna Yojana and Antyodaya Yojana reach the common people. He sought for awareness to be spread, so Government schemes like MGNREG prevented migration. The Governor also made it a point to stress on pensions — for old age, disability and widows — reaching on time.