As Governor Syed Ahmed stood up to address the House on Thursday, the atmosphere ‘positioned’ him as one from the Treasury Bench fielded to counter the Opposition. The customary speech turned into a verbal quarrel between the Constitutional head of the State and host of the BJP and the JVM legislators. The pandemonium ended but not before the irritated Governor, deviating from the written script, said, “I was talking about development and some people were opposing that.”
The din during the 30-minute address even forced the Governor to raise his voice to meet the lung power of the members and waiving his hand regularly indicating them to sit down.
The Opposition was expressing anger over deteriorating law and order in the State that has seen number of life loss and heinous crimes in recent past, including killing of six persons by the Maoists in Khunti on Wednesday. They held President’s Rule and the new coalition Government led by Hemant Soren for rising crimes in the State.
The anger expressed outside the Assembly as well. “The system has collapsed in the State and we wanted to raise the matter. Anyway he is holding a Constitutional post but his body language showed that he is working as an agent of the Government and the Congress,” said flamboyant JVM leader Pradeep Yadav.
looking the other way, Ahmed painted a rosy picture for Jharkhand. “The new Government under the leadership of UPA will provide positive leadership, social justice and harmony, political stability and bring every section into mainstream in the State. I believe that my Government would give top priority to fulfil wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said.
He also added that the Government aimed to provide transparent, sensitive and accountable governance and a society without fear and crime. It would keep into mind the welfare of all the sections especially of socially backward ones.
He stressed on rural development, irrigation, education, health and urban amenities as priorities of his Government.
The Governor mentioned Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment and livelihood Project financed by International Fund for Agricultural Development, Rome that would be run in 30 blocks of 14 districts covering 1,330 villages. Disbursal of scholarship through cash benefit transfer in seven districts, multi-sectoral development programme running in six districts and extended in 10 more and sanctioning of Rs 9,840 lakh for Scheduled Castes for livelihood also topped the agenda.
He also talked about 147 check dams built till June 2013 under AIBP scheme and Subarnarekha and Chandil projects. “Relocation of slum is underway in three cities Ranchi, Dhanbad and Jamshedpur that includes 8,928 houses being built in Ranchi, 3,618 in Dhanbad and 4,176 in Jamshedpur. Besides, Swarn Jayanti Urban Employment Scheme would be run to provide employment to youths in towns,” the Governor said.
The Governor also underlined reduction in uses of polythene since the ban has been imposed; talked about public amenities in the form of community halls, street lighting, development and beautification of parks and building of shopping complexes and night shelters. Improvement in the condition of roads and highways is also promised. He also said that in the financial year 2013-14, Rs 4682.78 lakh would be spent on building 9,560 units of Indira Awas.
“Five crore rupees would be spent under Model Village scheme to provide good quality and fully-furnished houses to poor during 2013-14,” said the Governor. He also mentioned about improving power scenario with additional electricity from PTPS, building of 19 transmission lines by PGCIl with the cost of Rs 1,400 crore and completion of rural electrification work in 17,300 villages against the target of 18,790. Computerisation in 30 towns under R-APDRP and electrification in 207 remote villages through solar power also got mentioned in the Governor’s address.
“Rs 159.41 crore has been granted by the Government for complete computerisation of the PDS system by using information technology. 11,44,860 additional BPl families would be given 35 kgs of rice every month at the rate of Re 1 after the allotment is received from Central Government,” said the Governor.
He also said that land had been identified for one ITI and two skill development centres in 10 Naxal-hit districts and 11,000 students had been trained under the Skill Development Initiative Scheme.