Emphasising the dream of Mahatma Gandhi of strengthening the institution of panchayats by establishing swaraj in the country, Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Sunday said that panchayats have played an important role in the development of the country.
The CM was speaking during a programme ‘Shashakt Gram Sabha… Saksham Panchayat’ on the topic ‘swaraj se suraj ki sthapna’ at Khatanga village under Ormanjhi Block on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
“Since the concept of ‘Panch Parmeshwar’ has been in vogue from the very beginning, we can realise the development of the villages through strengthening panchayats,” said the CM.
He added that Gagari was a village of martyrs as Seikh Bhikhari and Umraon Singh Tikait had waged a war against the British during the freedom struggle in 1957 for Swaraj in this village.
At the occasion, which also marks the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri, the CM said those leaders had given the slogan of Gram Swaraj and were of the view that villages had to be developed for composite development of the nation.
“Even after 70 years of Independence, villages of this country are still undeveloped, lagging on several fronts, including electricity, drinking water and education. My Government is committed to providing all the basic faculties to the villagers,” he said.
Addressing people’s representatives through online broadcasting, the CM asked them to take a pledge to make Jharkhand clean and promised to provide electricity to every village by 2018. He said people have to come forward for sanitation and children must be educated about it.
The CM added that schemes must be prepared keeping the next 15 years in mind and each panchayat should prepare a plan for next three years. He said people should be made aware about superstitions relating witchcraft and dowry.
“To check dropout in schools, village committees should play an important role. To ensure this, programmes should be organised in villages to educate girls. The next generation has to be updated,” said the CM, adding by November 15, benches and desks, made by local artisans, will be delivered to schools.
Stressing on making self help groups in the villages, the Chief Minister said that panchayats should work honestly and everybody should ensure his/her responsibility. They must ensure upliftment of poor villagers, their healthcare, proper functioning of Aanganbari centres, etc, he added.
Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary said that earlier the programmes were made on the higher level and for the first time planning at the lower level has started under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Putting it on the ground, Chief Minister Raghubar Das started Yojana Banao Abhiyaan in Jharkhand,” said the MP.