Makar Sankranti or Tusu has literally taken a toll on eating out plans in the city and on highways till January 20. Almost all the popular eateries in the city and those dotting the NH-33 linking Jamshedpur to Ranchi have been compelled to down their shutters with staff going on leave for celebrating Tusu Parab, arguably the biggest festival of the tribe of this region till January 20.
The festival falls on January 14 but with most of the staff hailing from Purulia, West Midnapore (in Bengal), adjoining Chandil (Seraikela-Kharsawan district), Patamda (around 30 km from city) and Haldipokhar (around 35 km from city) in East Singhbhum and going on leave from January 13 itself has forced eateries to shut-down from today itself.
Usually, Makar Sankranti (Tusu Parab) is celebrated between January 14-16 but the merrymaking continues for a week in rural areas extending the shut-down till January 20.
“We had no option but to shut down our food joint for a week from today as it is very difficult to prepare and serve dishes of the proper quality without untrained staff. We have been closing our unit for a week for several years despite complaints from our customers. There have been suggestions to make arrangements for alternate staff who do not observe the festivity so as to prevent closure of the unit. But so far we have not been successful in implementing this suggestion and have to suffer financially,” said an official of a food joint in Bistupur famed for its South Indian fare.
Around 15 popular highway dhabas on NH-33 famous amongst those with penchant for long drives and amongst those commuters who frequent between Jamshedpur and Ranchi also have the same fate.
“This is one of the main festivals of the tribe and we cannot employ staff at our joints and rely on villagers as our staff. It is very difficult to find a non-tribal employee with experience of cooking quality foods willing to work in dhabas.
So we have to close down till January 20,” said Manoj Singh, owner of a hotel near Humid (Chandil) on NH-33.
He admitted that commuters travelling on long distance buses will indeed face problems as it would be difficult to find an eatery open till January 20 between Jamshedpur and Ranchi.
Prashant (35), a staff with a city-based pharmaceutical firm and a resident of Baradwari who frequents from city to Ranchi rued about closure of highway dhabas. “It is another experience eating out on a dhaba amidst natural sceneries near highways. I have to reschedule my scheduled visit to Ranchi after January 20 when the dhabas start functioning again," said Prashant.
Around 20 restaurants tagged with well known hospitality addresses of the city have decided to cut down on dishes to tackle staff crunch due to the Tribal festival.
J’khand Anjali bag two medals in Int'l Karate Championship
In the international karate competition held in Kolkata (West Bengal), the Indian karate team opened its account with two gold medals on the first day. 10-year-old Anjali Kumari of Ranchi (Jharkhand), included in the Indian team, made the country proud by winning two medals in both the events. Apart from Anjali, other women players of Jharkhand also showed a good performance on the first day. Devanti Kumari won the gold medal in Kata while Priyanka Hembram got the silver medal in Kumite. Today a total of eight medals came in the account of the Indian team. All the winning players were honored with medals by the World Karate Association's Judge Hanshi Premjit Sen. All the winning players of Jharkhand have been congratulated by the General Secretary of Jharkhand Karate Association, Rainsi Sunil Kispotta and the President of International Martial Arts Academy Sansai Anil Kispotta.
Cong hits BJP on vaccination
Senior leaders of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee, (JPCC) Alok Kumar Dubey, Lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo and Rajesh Gupta on Sunday said that BJP leaders are making big claims about vaccination. They should remember that this vaccine was developed by the team of scientists in the same research centres which were established during the previous Congress regime. But it is unfortunate previous vaccination campaigns in the Country were conducted completely free of cost during the Congress rule, but for the first time to benefit their capitalist friends, the government has fixed three different prices of the same vaccine, due to which the Supreme Court also had to intervene and later due to Congress and mass movement, the central government bowed down and started a free vaccination campaign for all.
Minor Girl raped
A minor girl was raped by criminals on Sunday in Chanho police station area of the State capital. This incident is of Mahuvatoli village of Chanho police station area. The minor girl came out of her house with three girls this morning. Meanwhile, three youths who arrived in the car started running towards the three girls. Two girls managed to escape. While a minor girl was forcibly made to sit in the car by the criminals. After that the girl was raped. The criminals sitting in the car came to know that the mobile was lost somewhere. He stopped the car near the crooked bridge. From there the minor girl escaped after getting the opportunity. The minor girl informed her family members about this incident. The family members reached Chanho police station and complained about the matter. After making the complaint, the police are interrogating the victim and the family members. However, the minor girl does not recognize the rapists in advance.
Khunti Police arrested three persons with PLFI link
The police of Rania police station of Khunti district on Sunday has arrested three people associated with the banned organization PLFI. All three were in the process of carrying out the Naxalite incident in Rangroti village of the police station area. Among those arrested are Vishram Konkani alias Mota alias Sukra and Kulen Kongadi. Another minor has also been arrested on charges of collusion with them. Police recovered two live cartridges, PLFI leaflet, donation receipt, mobile and a bike from these people. Police said that Vishram Kongadi is an accused in 7 big cases. At the same time, Kulen Kongadi is the main accused in five big cases. Both were on the run.
Police are interrogating both. It is being said that people associated with the banned PLFI are trying to strengthen the organization in Khunti. Efforts are being made to get people involved in the organization through propaganda and intimidation.